The King's Singers (SOLD OUT)

As a group that was founded by singers from King’s College Choir, The King’s Singers get back to their roots in this programme based around early English sacred music for Lent and Holy Week. In the first part of the programme, they will mark the 400th anniversary of William Byrd’s death, focussing on some of his most emotionally-charged works for Lent, as well as those of his teacher and friend Thomas Tallis. In addition, they will join forces with Merton College Choir to perform one of the most iconic choral works of all time, Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere mei. 

In the second half, you can expect some more treasures from their library of over 3000 pieces, reflecting on themes of darkness, loss, and love, and concluding with a sequence of spirituals and folk songs with their award-winning signature close harmony sound.

Programme:

Tom and Will: Music for Passiontide

In ieiunio et fletu | Why fum’th in fight | Lamentations of Jeremiah (prima pars)     Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

A flow’r at sun-rising (from Sermons and Devotions)      Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012)

Ave verum corpus | O salutaris hostia a6 | Vigilate      William Byrd (1540-1623)

Seasons of his mercies (from Sermons and Devotions)     Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012)

Nolo mortem peccatoris     Thomas Morley (1557-1602)

Death hath deprived me | Hosanna to the Son of David     Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623)

The bell doth toll (from Sermons and Devotions)     Richard Rodney Bennett (1936-2012)  

Miserere mei (with the Choir of Merton College)     Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)

Interval

Psalms for Holy Week

Mu jumal (Psalm 22) | Isaand (Psalm 141) | Paeval (Psalm 121)     Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962)

Songs of faith and hope

Even such is time      Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)

After Even such is time, The King's Singers will sing a selection of spirituals and folk songs arrangements selected specially on the night by The King's Singers 

The King’s Singers have represented the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages for over fifty years. They are renowned for their connection and engagement with their audiences, their unrivalled technique, versatility and skill in performance, and for their consummate musicianship, drawing both on the group’s rich heritage and pioneering spirit to create an extraordinary wealth of original works and unique collaborations.

The Choir of Merton College consists of 30 undergraduate and graduate students at Oxford University reading for degrees in a variety of subjects. The choir's primary duty is singing at regular services in the famous 13th-century Chapel. Since the establishment of the Choral Foundation in 2008, the choir has gained an international reputation for offering the best of choral music through tours, recordings and broadcasts. The choir’s discography on the Delphian Label has seen numerous five-star reviews and many recordings have been named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Gramophone magazine.