On January 20, 2016, Vladimir Spivakov and the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Russia start recording their new album, which will include "St. John of Damascus" by Sergey Taneyev and "The Bells" by Rachmaninoff. The Grand Choir "Masters of Choral Singing" under the direction of People's Artist of Russia Lev Kontorovich are also taking part in the recording. Vladimir Spivakov defines the works included into the album as "Monts Blancs of Russian symphonic music." Rachmaninoff's "The Bells" has already been recorded by the Maestro with the NPR and the Choir of the Academy of Choral Arts named after V.S. Popov and such outstanding soloists as Hibla Gerzmava, Dmitry Korchak and Vasily Ladyuk. The masterpiece of Taneyev will be recorded for the first time in the Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow Performing Arts Center. Moreover, the Orchestra is further set to record the Sixth Symphony by Tchaikovsky, both in the recording studio and live from the concert which will close the VI Christmas Festival of Sacred Music. One of the key figures in this series of recordings will be well-known German sound engineer and producer Philipp Nedel, a winner of the Grammy and the ECHO Awards, and a permanent partner of Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Sony Music and Onyx. Nedel is known for his successful long-term cooperation with the New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; he has repeatedly worked with Denis Matsuev. The NPR's previous recording – the Edvard Grieg Album "A Wounded Heart" for Sony Music – was made with the participation of Nedel and his “b-sharp” studio.