VOCES8
“The singing of VOCES8 is impeccable in its quality of tone and balance. They bring a new dimension to the word ‘ensemble’ with meticulous timing and tuning.”
— Gramophone
THIS PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT
20 Songs from 20 Years
Orlando GIBBONS (1583-1625): O Clap Your Hands
Orlando GIBBONS: Drop, Drop Slow Tears
Arvo PÄRT (b.1935): The Deer’s Cry
Sergei RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943): Bogoroditse Devo (Ave Maria)
Jake RUNESTAD (b.1986): Let My Love Be Heard
Paul SMITH (b.1981): Nunc Dimittis
Ola GJEILO (b.1978): Ubi Caritas
Felix MENDELSSOHN (1809-1847): Denn er hat seinen Engeln
Caroline SHAW (b.1982): and the swallow
Edward ELGAR (1857-1934): Lux Aeterna (Nimrod) (arr. John Cameron)
Claudio MONTEVERDI (1567-1643): Book VI: Lagrime D’Amante al Sepolcro Dell’Amata (Sestina Madrigalis)
Thomas WEELKES (1576-1623): As Vesta Was
Orlando di LASSO (1532-1594): Dessus le marché d’Arras
Kate RUSBY (b.1973): Underneath the Stars (arr. Jim Clements)
SPIRITUAL: Steal Away (arr. David Blackwell)
Gregorio ALLEGRI (1582-1652): Miserere Mei, Deus
Join us for a magical celebration of the first 20 years of VOCES8 in a concert featuring music tracing deep connections from the early roots of Claudio Monteverdi and Orlando di Lasso all the way to the present day. A program inspired by the journey of the ensemble, music they have grown up with as well as pieces by contemporary composers they are proud to call friends.
Please note, that there will be no pre-concert talk, as the artists will discuss the selections from the stage.
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The 2023 Grammy-nominated British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading musicians, orchestras, conductors and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos which is shared both online and in person.
VOCES8 has performed at many notable venues since its inception in 2005 including Wigmore Hall, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Cité de la Musique Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tokyo Opera City, NCPA Beijing, Sydney Opera House, Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall, Victoria Concert Hall Singapore, Palacio de Bellas Artes Mexico City amongst many others. This season they perform over 100 concerts in the UK and across Europe, in Israel and the USA – a welcome return to touring after the covid restrictions.
The group’s entrepreneurial and community spirit and its innovative approach are fostered by the Co-Founders of VOCES8, brothers Paul and Barnaby Smith. The pandemic has provided the impetus for VOCES8 to further transform its already exceptional offerings, nurturing a new audience community providing hope, resilience and a chance to engage with classical music in new ways. Pioneering initiatives include ventures such as the LIVE From London digital festivals and the VOCES8 Digital Academy.
LIVE From London was created as a specific response to the pandemic. Winning praise for its collaborative approach from artists, press and audiences around the world, the team has delivered five digital festivals to date, broadcasting 70 concerts and selling 150,000 tickets in over 75 countries. The VOCES8 Digital Academy is an online choral programme for high schools, colleges and individuals featuring live interaction with members of the ensemble, live and recorded lectures, and video resources to learn and perform music from the renaissance to today.
Alongside this online work on its own platforms VOCES8 is heard regularly on albums, international television and radio. The ensemble is a Decca Classics artist and alongside that releases projects on its own label, VOCES8 Records. The latest Decca Classics album is “Infinity” which reached the top of the classical charts on release. New projects with composers Christopher Tin, Eric Whitacre and Paul Simon are being recorded in 2022.
VOCES8 is passionate about music education and is the flagship ensemble of music charity the VOCES8 Foundation, which actively promotes ‘Music Education For All’. Engaging in a broad range of outreach work that reaches up to 40,000 people a year, the group runs an annual program of workshops and masterclasses at the Foundation’s home in London, the VOCES8 Centre at St Anne & St Agnes Church. Dedicated to supporting promising young singers, the group awards eight annual choral scholarships through the VOCES8 Scholars initiative. These scholarships are linked to the annual Milton Abbey Summer School at which amateur singers of all ages are invited to work and perform with VOCES8. Through the separate VOCES8 USA Foundation there is another set of talented Scholars.
VOCES8 is proud to be working with Roxanna Panufnik as the group’s Composer-in-Residence, and Jim Clements as Arranger-in-Residence. The ensemble has premiered commissions from Jonathan Dove, Roxanna Panufnik, Roderick Williams, Paul Smith, Jocelyn Hagen, Melissa Dunphy, Ken Williams, Taylor Scott Davis, Alexander Levine, Alexia Sloane, Alec Roth, Ben Parry, Ola Gjeilo, Mårten Jansson, Philip Stopford, Graham Lack, Thomas Hewitt Jones and Owain Park. As ambassadors for Edition Peters the ensemble publishes educational material including the VOCES8 Method. Developed by Paul Smith, this renowned and unique teaching tool is available in four languages and adopts music to enhance development in numeracy, literacy and linguistics. Also available are anthologies of its arrangements, and an ever-expanding VOCES8 Singles range.
Supporting Underwriters: Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts - Commerce Bank, Trustee and Marilyn A. W. Gaar and Normal E. Gaar, Esq.