Russian music features in blessing of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles marriage

The marriage blessing of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles will be accompanied by a Russian musical setting of the Christian creed - a gift from a St. Petersburg theater with a royal connection.

The prince's office at Clarence House said Wednesday that the "Russian Creed," set to music by Alexander Gretchaninov, would be sung by Russian contralto Ekaterina Semenchuk.

She will be flown to Britain to perform as a wedding gift from the Mariinsky Theater Trust of St. Petersburg, of which Charles is patron and a benefactor.

The prince and Parker Bowles will marry April 8 in a civil ceremony at Windsor's town hall, followed by a service of blessing at Windsor Castle led by Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.

Clarence House said the service would feature a combination of choral and orchestral music chosen by the couple, including a chorus from Bach's cantata "Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland" and excerpts from Handel's "Water Music."

Guests will sing three of the couple's favorite hymns - "Immortal Invisible," "Love Divine All Loves Excelling" and "Praise My Soul The King of Heaven."

The concluding blessing will be followed by a verse of the national anthem, "God Save the Queen," and a specially commissioned fanfare by the Welsh composer Alun Hoddinott.

Associated Press