In Brief

British composer Tavener has a keen interest in things ancient, melding new ideas with medieval sonorities. He converted to the Russian Orthodox Church 20 years ago and has since written music of often haunting simplicity and spiritual grace. Here, Isserlis proves a worthy and contemplative protagonist for the composer’s designs. The title piece, “Svyati” (O Holy One), finds the cellist hovering around the Kiev Chamber Choir. “Akhmatova Songs” is a duet with soprano Patricia Rozario, and “The Hidden Treasure,” a 25-minute string quartet. Isserlis goes solo in the closing “Chant,” structured, like other Tavener works, as a musical palindrome--an elegant and plaintive source of meditation. Likewise, the album in general.