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.

This remarkable album...is a magnificent listening experience as well as a very useful cultural document.

Cappella Romana puts a lot of heart and soul, singing the monophonic songs with fervor, but emphasizing their well-dosed choral sound, especially in the polyphonic sacred songs.

The purity and clarity of the women’s voices are outstanding throughout...it is an offering of insight into the beauty and cultural depth of one aspect of Ukrainian life...that may be largely unfamiliar to listeners but that is filled with its own plenteous portion of beauty, charm and solemnity.

Inspirational stuff, captured in glowing sound.

The choir is very good...The singers feel the liturgy and are very good at spinning out the lines of chant in both works. If you are a devotee of sacred choral music, you will be pleased to hear this.

I hear the spark of the Divine in these works, and I believe that all listeners will find their souls comforted and strengthened...gripping and moving works.

Conductor Richard Sparks, his vocal soloists and choristers, and the accompanying instrumentalists are totally imbued with the spirit and intent of their proceedings, and have the necessary skills to realize them. Highly recommended.

The vocal performers...are impressive...as with much good choral music, one comes away with a finer sensitivity to our need for each other, for the collective.

the music is dense and rich but always bows to the lyrical messages of charity and devotion...the singing by the Benedict XVI Choir is consistently outstanding.

All who are steeped in the Orthodox tradition will cherish this recording...substantial, descriptive, and satisfying music of pure vocal essence.