"It is astonishing what a deep sense of beauty this composition for church, choirs and cello is imbued with," said Mstislav Rostropovich when he heard Chapter Eight for the first time. The Russian composer Alexander Knaifel (1943-2024) set the Old Testament Song of Solomon to music as a "communal prayer" to be performed "in church acoustics rich in reverberation". The subtle fusion of sounds is of central importance for a work "without plot or drama", as Knaifel said, but by no means without mystery. Here, cellist Patrick Demenga is called upon to forego the soloist role and surrender to the joint singing of the three choirs under the direction of Estonian conductor Andres Mustonen and the pervading atmosphere of the church. The album was recorded in the Jesuit Church in Lucerne, which was built in the Baroque period and has long been known for its exceptional acoustic qualities.