suffering of the Russia. In an irony of history, Khrennikov, who had organized the boycott of Artyomov, also ends up recognizing the greatness of his enemy in his hearing of this work ... We would almost think of Salieri faced with the Requiem of Mozart in Amadeus." – (from: Sarah Léon (Classica, France) – translation by Stephen Sutton, 4 March 2019) "Many consider Vyacheslav Artyomov Russia's greatest living composer. Sola Fide underwent a lengthy gestation. It began in the early 1980s with a suggestion from Nikita Dolgushin, a Leningrad-based dancer and choreographer, that Artyomov compose a ballet based on Aleksey Tolstoy's trilogy Road to Calvary. A libretto was initially mooted 'after the novel' from Valeriya Lyubetskaya. This turned out not to be feasible. The composer thus adapted the subject, retaining the novel's principal characters, especially that of the Poet, who symbolizes Culture – the creation and dissemination of which justifies humanity. The death of the Poet signifies the collapse of Humankind. Artyomov decided on a ballet-requiem, employing a full choir and soloists. Due to pressures of work the ballet was put on hold, but a Requiem emerged dedicated to the 'Martyrs of long-suffering Russia'. It was premiered in 1988. It was not until 2016 that Sola Fide was finally completed. It consists of 30 episodes in 3 acts, 10 of which are shared with the Requiem. The episodes are forged into five suites: Katia, Dasha, Poet, The Terrible Days and Catastrophe. This recording includes Katia and The Terrible Days, two suites shared with the Requiem. Once again the composer dedicated the ballet to the 'Martyrs of long-suffering Russia' ... This captivating release will no doubt stir me on to explore more of this composer's strikingly potent music." – (from: Stephen Greenbank. MWI, June 2018) "As the author, over 20 years ago now, of the first book ever to be published on the music of Vyacheslav Artyomov (born 1940), it has been a singular pleasure for me to have witnessed his slow but growing acceptance by many to become Russia's greatest living composer. As Divine Art has rightly claimed, after the fall of the Soviet regime his music has travelled the world to great acclaim. It is deep, ultimately spiritual and brilliantly crafted, with influences from the Russian symphonic tradition coloured by Mahler, Scriabin, Honegger and Messiaen to name a few — but melded into a unique voice! The tradition Artyomov