2023 release. Grammy-winning composer Eric Whitacre releases a new album with world-renowned VOCES8 - his 'dream vocal group' - for the first time. With Eric conducting throughout, it includes a world premiere recording of his new piece, All Seems Beautiful to Me, as well as a new recording of one of his most popular pieces - The Seal Lullaby. The album also features the 12-movement cantata, The Sacred Veil, with text by Eric's long-time friend and collaborator, Charles Anthony (Tony) Silvestri.

VOCES8 - "Nightfall" / VOCES8 presents a collection of reflective and transcendent music inspired by the night. Featuring choral classics alongside contemporary arrangements, including new choral versions of popular works by Ludovico Einaudi, Sigur R�s, Koji Kondo and Max Richter. CD Digipak. Verve Label Group; Decca; Classical Crossover

VOCES8 and Les Inventions shine a light on a hidden musical treasure in these world-premiere recordings of Charles Avison’s 1757 adaptation of Benedetto Marcello’s 1724-26 magnum opus Estro-poetico armonico, settings of the first fifty Psalms of David as paraphrased by the poet Girolamo Ascanio Giustiniani. In addition to the subtle deployment of vocal resources, and his imaginative use of musical techniques to illustrate the texts, Marcello brought to these psalms a peculiar quality of freshness and originality that unquestionably contributed to their becoming a major international success, so demonstrated by the work’s rapid translation into many other languages, as well as by the enthusiasm with which these settings were embraced by performers of a variety of religious traditions including Anglican, Lutheran and Jewish.

PURCELL Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem. To the Hills and Vales. By the Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty. O God, Thou art my God. How Happy the Lover. What Power Thou Art. Behold, O Mightiest of Gods. My Heart is Inditing of a Good Matter. Bid the Virtues. Hail! Bright Cecilia. Strike the Viol. Thou Knowest Lord the Secrets of Our Hearts. Fairest Isle. Full Fathom Five • Voces8; Les Inventions; Andrea Haines, Emily Dickens (s); Barnaby Smith (ct); Samuel Dressel (t); Dingle Yandell (bs) • SIGNUM 2975 (70:18)


Voces8 is an (of course) eight-member group whose repertoire ranges from “Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements.” Here they are joined with the distinguished French-based instrumental group Les Inventions. Together they have put together a kind of anthology of Purcell’s music that they charmingly describe as a stroll through his world. It’s more than that. We hear a particularly lovely rendition by the voices of Purcell’s unaccompanied dirge Thou Knowest, Lord, a gracious performance by countertenor Barnaby Smith of Purcell’s praise for Queen Mary, By Beauteous Softness Mix’d with Majesty (with a text by the oft-reviled Thomas Shadwell), and a comical What Power Thou Art. In this piece, nicknamed The Cold Song, bass Dingle Yandell impersonates the spirit of Britain being reluctantly awakened from a frosty slumber. One can virtually hear his teeth chatter. The choral pieces are just as effective, and the instrumental playing, including the oboe obbligato in Bid the Virtues, is lovely as well. There is spirit here when it is called for, and pathos as well. Although such definitive pieces as “Dido’s Lament” are not here, this collection would be an excellent introduction to Purcell as a reminder of his range for those whose know him well.


FANFARE: Michael Ullman

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - MOTETS VOCES8SENESINO PLAYERS JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH - MOTETSSINGET DEM HERRN EIN NEUES LIED, BWV 225FURCHTE DICH NICHT, ICH BIN BEI DIR, BWV 228LOBET DEN HERRN, ALLE HEIDEN, BWV 230JESU, MEINE FREUDE, BWV 227KOMM, JESU, KOMM, BWV 229DER GEIST HILFT UNCER SCHWACHHEIT AUF, BWV 226

VARIOUS VOCES8 ACES HIGHTracks: Goldeneye; Slap That Bass; What A Difference A Day Makes; Good Vibrations; Dream A Little Dream Of Me; Feeling Good; Anything Goes; From Russia With Love; Cloudy; Losing My Mind; Mack The Knife; Love Of My Life; For Your Eyes Only/You Only Live Twice;Thunderball; Smooth Criminal; Nobody Does It Better.

The international award-winning octet, VOCES8, has established itself at the forefront of British a cappella. Performing a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique Jazz and Pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color.

REVIEW:

Voces8 offer polished and well-nigh flawless singing. The tone, however, seems rather ‘white’; frequently I found myself longing for a bit less studied technical perfection and a bit more by way of grit and feeling; much of this disc seems too smooth and effortless.

-- MusicWeb International

Voces8, the internationally acclaimed British vocal ensemble, is pleased to announce the release of their new album, 'A Choral Christmas' out on November 3rd via Decca Classics and showcasing a joyful, cinematic soundscape-packed hamper of choral and orchestral treats. A Christmas musical extravaganza filled with sparkling, cinematic new arrangements of favourite carols from US composer Taylor Scott Davis. Featuring several world premiere recordings of brand new works and arrangements, including the centrepiece of the album, a major new work for choir and orchestra, Taylor Scott Davis's dazzling setting of the Magnificat, originally commissioned for Voces8's LIVE From London festival. Also includes a serene and intimate new a cappella carol The Sleeping Child from British composer Bob Chilcott written especially for Voces8. Largest scale recording of Voces8 to date - featuring the Voces8 Foundation Choir and Orchestra for the first time, instrumental soloists and conducted by Voces8's co-founder and countertenor Barnaby Smith.