In the field of contemporary music, Cappella Romana has taken a leading role in bringing to West Coast audiences the works of such European composers as Michael Adamis, Ivan Moody, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener, as well as promoting the work of North Americans such as Fr. Sergei Glagolev, Christos Hatzis, Peter Michaelides, and Tikey Zes.

This is music of endless fascination, performed with impeccable attention to detail. Cappella Romana live up to their reputation as the foremost representatives of the Byzantine choral tradition.

The programme comes full circle with the mystical ecstasy of Radiant Cloud, a sonic icon of the Transfiguration by Athenian composer Michael Adamis.

One splendid new disc arrived just too late to make my last column of CD reviews of new releases by Oregon musicians. The Portland-based choir Cappella Romana is not only one of the finest vocal ensembles in the West, it’s also renowned for being the world’s primary exponent of music from the Byzantine era.

Benedict Sheehan, an outstanding composer of choral music, has created a work that solemnly soothes the suffering of millions of Ukrainians caught in the clutches of this barbaric war.

They are sung simply and with great feeling by the women of...Cappella.

The gentlemen of these 2 Canadian choirs make the music flow powerfully but gracefully...I feel fortunate to have heard it.

Thoughtfully produced and carefully assembled to draw audiences into Papadiamantis’ world and the Byzantine liturgy, the CD of Christmas at the Castle will be a fascinating and meaningful experience for listeners seeking what for most will be a hitherto unexplored and somewhat opaque exploration of the meaning of the holiday.… a genuine and much-appreciated Christmas gift.

Throughout the work's 67 minutes, the richly sonorous men's chorus sings with fervent urgency...Sheehan's powerful, often heart-rendingly beautiful score is a loving tribute to the Ukrainian dead that deserves to be heard everywhere in remembrance of all victims of all wars.

The commitments of all involved in the music is palpable and moving...

The heartfelt nature of much of this music is not to be denied. The music...is very fine: sensitive to the words...effectively emotive...the expressiveness of the material speaks, or rather sings, for itself...Ukrainian War Requiem is a deeply moving work

Performed by the excellent Axios Men’s Ensemble and the tenors and basses of Pro Coro Canada under the direction of Michael Zaugg, this music is an important statement in our time.

...a work that solemnly soothes the suffering of millions of Ukrainians...sung by the excellent Axios Men's Ensemble and Pro Coro Canada under the direction of Michael Zaugg.

...the music is very beautiful, and the singing of the gigantic male choir is mightily impressive, not only for its power but also as much for its beauty of tone.

The performance is astonishingly good...exceptional quality...consistency of tone...and impeccable tuning...

A coruscating collision of two vocal worlds...ever surprising, adventurous and emotionally genuine...

The interpretation is breathtakingly monumental...Connoisseurs of orthodox chant will be profoundly touched by the Canadian choristers from the Axios Men’s Ensemble and Pro Coro...The well-balanced harmonics...rank this...in a class comparable to similar compositions by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff...much care has been put into every detail of this towering production.

It’s vital new art that responds powerfully, as art always has, to injustice and violence and the horrors of war by projecting solemn beauty.

The songs sung in preparation for the wedding employ the vocal techniques of village singers, while the chants and choral works sung during the wedding ceremony itself reflect the sublime style more prevalent in church singing.

Everything is brilliantly and captivatingly performed by the vocal ensemble Cappella Romana. A Ukrainian Wedding is a great opportunity to learn more about Ukrainian culture — not just about folk music, but how Ukrainian society celebrates all parts of life.