RACHMANINOFF: “VESPERS.” Maureen Forrester, mezzo; Gene Tucker,...

RACHMANINOFF: “VESPERS.” Maureen Forrester, mezzo; Gene Tucker, tenor; Mstislav Rostropovich conducting the Choral Arts Society of Washington. Erato ECD 75319 (compact disc). After a long period of being more honored in textbooks than on recordings, Rachmaninoff’s major choral work seems to be coming into its own. Luminous, spacious, mysterious performances like this one certainly won’t hurt the cause. The incidental solos receive, well, incidental singing. The chorus provides a fluent, flexible body of sound--lighter perhaps than a Slavic ideal, but purposefully directed by Rostropovich.