Jason Max Ferdinand’s new choral work Journey is the opening track on Tenebrae’s new album The Journey, released by Signum Classics on 18 September. Commissioned as part of Tenebrae’s 25th anniversary celebrations, Journey sets Ferdinand’s own text and is dedicated “to Nigel Short and Tenebrae, for the many years of inspiration”. Tenebrae describes the work … more»
The Mancunium Consort has released Blake Morgan’s new arrangement of The Water of Tyne, coinciding with the release of its new album Still Waters on the VOCES8 Records label. Blake’s setting brings a fresh approach to the much-loved Northumbrian folk song, combining its simple, memorable melody with his distinctive vocal writing. The release continues Blake’s … more»
The VOCES8 Foundation Choir returns to London’s Cadogan Hall this December for Handel’s Messiah, once again joining forces with the English Chamber Orchestra and director Nicholas Kraemer. The performance on Sunday 6 December continues a successful collaboration between the choir, orchestra and Kraemer, who have performed Handel’s much-loved oratorio together at Cadogan Hall on several … more»
In a new in-depth interview with CHORALLY, Paul Smith, co-founder and CEO of the VOCES8 Foundation, reflects on the remarkable journey from eight friends singing together to an international organisation encompassing VOCES8, Apollo5, Lyyra, the VOCES8 Scholars, education programmes, recording, publishing and foundations in the UK, US and France. Paul discusses the challenges of building … more»
Psalms of Doubt and Wonderment is released today on VOCES8 Records. The album brings together Mårten Jansson’s distinctive choral writing in performances by the next generation of outstanding professional singers from the VOCES8 Scholars Ensemble, joined by the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet, with Grammy Award-winning conductor Ragnar Bohlin. Listen here. At the heart of the album … more»
The VOCES8 Scholars Ensemble join Swedish ensemble O/Modernt for performances of Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in Hamburg and Merano this September. Directed by violinist Hugo Ticciati, the production places Purcell’s celebrated opera within a contemporary musical landscape, bringing together Baroque repertoire with music associated with Harry Potter, Sting and Muse. The VOCES8 Scholars Ensemble … more»
Zeb Soanes’ much-loved story Gaspard’s Foxtrot takes another step in its journey into the world of music education with the release of a new animated concert film through Charanga. Created with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and featuring Jonathan Dove’s specially composed score, the 30-minute film follows Gaspard, a little fox exploring the sights and … more»
Acclaimed American women’s vocal ensemble Lyyra returns to London’s Kings Place on 26 September for to perform their programme Rising, following their sell-out debut at the venue. The six-voice ensemble, part of the VOCES8 Foundation, brings its distinctive blend of classical, jazz, pop and folk to a programme featuring music by Caroline Shaw, Stevie Wonder, … more»
At the start of August the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers made a sensational impact at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, earning enthusiastic critical praise across three very different appearances. Their Festival debut came in the opening-night concert of Wynton Marsalis’s All Rise, where The Times praised the “spine-shuddering impact” of their combined voices with the … more»
The VOCES8 Scholars Ensemble has released the first single from its forthcoming debut album, Songs of Doubt and Wonderment, celebrating the evocative choral music of Swedish composer Mårten Jansson. The single, The Sun Riseth, offers a first glimpse of an album that explores themes of faith, uncertainty and hope through Jansson’s richly expressive musical language, … more»