Holst Singers

Infobox musical artist
Name = Holst Singers


Background = classical_ensemble
Alias =
Origin = flagicon|UK London, UK
Genre = Choral
Occupation = Choir
Years_active =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.holstsingers.com/ www.holstsingers.com]
Current_members = Conductor
Stephen Layton
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = The Holst Singers are an amateur choir based in London, United Kingdom. The choir is named after the composer Gustav Holst, whose choral works are popular in British choral repertoire. [ [http://www.gustavholst.info/compositions/choralacappella.php Holst's choral compositions] ]

The musical director is the English conductor Stephen Layton. The countertenor James Bowman is the president of the choir.

Repertoire

The Holst Singers devote much of their attention to performing and recording new works by living composers such as the British composer John Tavener, and Estonian composers Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis. The choir also focuses on works by Alexander Gretchaninov, Alfred Schnittke, and Russian Orthodox music, as well as the core choral repertoire of part-songs by Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Benjamin Britten, and works such as Bach's Mass in B minor and Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis.cite web
url = http://www.holstsingers.com/repertoire
title = Past performances
accessdate = 2008-04-21
author = Holst Singers ]

Performances

The Holst Singers perform regularly in London venues such as the Temple Church and St John's Smith Square. In June 2003 the Holst singers premièred Tavener's epic 26-hour work, "The Veil of the Temple" at the Temple Church. [cite web
url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/richard_morrison/article1146589.ece
title = Tavener's musical pilgrimage
accessdate = 2008-04-21
author = Richard Morrison
work=The Times
date=2003-06-30 ] They performed an abridged concert version in the BBC Proms in 2004. The choir has previously performed with the with the Hilliard Ensemble, The Academy of Ancient Music and soloists such as James Bowman and Ian Bostridge.

Recordings

The Holst Singers have made a number of recordings with Hyperion Records as well as with RCA and Decca. CD releases include The Tavener Collection (Decca), Schnittke's Choir Concerto (Hyperion), Gretchaninov's Vespers, settings of Three Shakespeare Songs and English folk songs by Vaughan Williams, and music by Pärt, Sviridov, Górecki and Tchaikovsky.

elected discography

Discography list
Type = Studio
Name = Tormis - Choral Music
Other info =
from Album =
Released = April 2008
Format = CD
Label = Hyperion
Writer = Veljo Tormis
Producer =
Director = Stephen Layton
Chart position=
Sales =
Certification =
Tracks = various Estonian folk songs arranged for choir
Bonus tracks =
Singles =

Discography list
Type = Studio
Name = Pierre Villette Choral Music
Other info =
from Album =
Released = April 2006
Format = CD
Label = Hyperion
Writer = Pierre Villette
Producer =
Director = Stephen Layton
Chart position=
Sales =
Certification =
Tracks = fifteen unaccompanied choral works and two motets
Bonus tracks =
Singles =

Discography list
Type = Studio
Name = The Veil of the Temple
Other info = world première recording
from Album =
Released = February 2005
Format = double CD
Label = RCA
Writer = John Tavener
Producer =
Director = Stephen Layton
Chart position=
Sales =
Certification =
Tracks =
Bonus tracks =
Singles =

References