Last updated 05:15, Friday, 28 November 2008

Celebrating and continuing Russia’s rich singing tradition, the Konevets Quartet, from St Petersburg, visit Carlisle Cathedral tomorrow night to perform tsarist songs forbidden under communism.

Rich singing tradition: The Konevets Quartet

The chamber choir sing mainly Russian sacred music, ranging from hymns by 20th century composers, such as Stravinsky, to ancient chants in one, two and three part arrangements.

Their repertoire also features Russian folk and regimental songs and marches of the tsarist armies and military academies and rare choral music by Russian composers including Tchaikovsky and Borodin, with lyrics by poets such as Pushkin and Lermontov.

The Quartet takes its name from the monastery on Konevets Island, 160 miles northeast of St Petersburg. The Quartet give part of their income to the restoration of the monastery which suffered catastrophic damage during the Soviet era when the island was used as a prison.

Alexander Bordak (first tenor), Sergey Svoysky (second tenor) and Igor Dmitriev (director and bass) are all graduates of the St Petersburg Music Conservatory. Boris Petrov (baritone) attended the Special Music School of St Petersburg and St Petersburg Cultural University.

The Carlisle Cathedral concert by the Konevets Quartet starts at 7pm. Tickets cost £8 adults/£4 studens and concessions/free for under 18s if accompanied by an adult, available in advance from the Old Town Hall visitors Centre or the Cathedral office and on the door.