Vyacheslav Artyomov (b. 1940) is considered by many to be Russia’s greatest living composer. His Requiem, dedicated to 'the Martyrs of Long-Suffering Russia', may as well have been dedicated to the whole world based on today's state of affairs. It's a dark, plaintive, tortured work lamenting the plight of the Russian people during the Soviet era. It is scored for large forces, including three sopranos, tenor, baritone, treble, organ, choir and boy's choir, and of course large orchestra. Within the music I discern the sound of Ligeti, Penderecki and Silvestrov underpinned by echoes of the ancient Orthodox style. It is at times moving, at times disquieting and disturbing. For example, the opening minute or so of the Kyrie Eleison is extremely ominous and foreboding, so much so as to provoke the willies, and he final minute of the Libera Me builds to a frighteningly powerful climax where you can still hear one of the soprano's powerful supplication over the deafening din of the choir and orchestra. This recording features mostly the same performers that were involved in the world première performance in 1997. It was recorded in Moscow by Melodiya and remastered in 2018.

It is world's apart from the Mozart and Fauré requiems for example, and instead has the same sense of 'finality' as do the Berlioz and Verdi scores, but with a much more universal overtone to it, and has a way of lingering in your mind long after audition. It was written for the millions of Russians who suffered and died by the hands of tyranny, but still resounds today for all of those killed due to greed and intolerance.