The basis of the Synodal Choir was the Russian Patriarchal choir formed in the 16th Century of adult clerics. Following the abolition of the Patriarchate in 1700, the choir became known as the "Cathedral Choir" (соборный хор) attached to the
Assumption Cathedral of the
Kremlin. Following the establishment of the Holy Synod in 1710, the choir officially became known as the Moscow Synodal Choir. Soon after this boy sopranos and contraltos joined the choir to perform the new
polyphonic music. In 1919 the
Moscow Synodal School was dissolved and merged into the
Moscow Conservatory, the Choir ceased to perform sacred music and the boy sopranos were released, though Kastalsky continued to perform folk music with the choir till 1923. The Moscow Synodal Choir was revived with the blessing of
Kirill I,
Patriarch of Moscow and all Rus', under the conductor
Aleksei Puzakov (Алексей Пузаков),
People's Artist of Russia, in 2009. The choir is to be distinguished from the
Russian Patriarchate Choir under
Anatoly Grindenko (Анатолий Гринденко). == Selected discography ==