The Vasari Singers

Over the last two decades, the Vasari Singers has built up a reputation for excellence, versatility and sensitivity in both live performances and recordings. The choir gives annual concerts at St John’s, Smith Square and St Martin-in-the-Fields in London, ranging from an all-Bach programme to David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus. They have performed in most of the London concert venues, including the South Bank, the Wigmore Hall, the Barbican Centre and the Royal Albert Hall. Vasari has sung in many commercial concerts and festivals, including the BBC Proms. The choir sings regularly in Canterbury Cathedral, and has also deputised for the choirs at York, Ely, Winchester, Chester, Sheffield and Westminster Abbey. Vasari also takes on commercial work, having most recently appeared on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise, and performed the soundtrack for the Bafta-nominated Discovery Channel documentary, Seven Wonders.  

The choir has made 15 CDs and collected some enthusiastic reviews: two recent première recordings of the music of Marcel Dupré both received ‘Editor’s Choice’ status in Gramophone magazine.

The choir’s singers are highly experienced, many having joined from the LSO Chorus, the Kent Youth Choir, from university/college choirs and several of London’s leading chamber choirs. The choir has a programme to develop new voices and encourage younger singers to join — at least one new member gets performance experience with every concert.

In 2005, Vasari will celebrate its 25th anniversary, a major milestone for any organization. In this time, Vasari has been directed by just one conductor, Jeremy Backhouse. 

The choir is affiliated to the National Federation of Music Societies, the Society for Promotion of New Music, is a member of the Adopt a Composer Scheme, and the Arts and Business association. Vasari is supported by our Patron, Ward Swingle, by the Michael Marks Foundation, and through our Benefactors and Friends Schemes.

GMCD 7302 Ein Deutsches Requiem - Geistliches Lied

The award-winning chamber choir Vasari Singers, under Music Director Jeremy Backhouse, enters its 25^th anniversary year with a reputation for excellence and versatility based on vivid concert performances and recordings.  Described by Gramophone magazine as “one of the most accomplished small choral groups of our time”, Vasari has performed in most of London’s major concert venues and taken part in numerous commercial concerts and festivals, including the BBC Proms. The choir can be heard regularly on BBC Radio 3 and has featured on BBC TV.  Choral evensong is a major part of Vasari’s schedule and the choir sings regularly in Canterbury Cathedral at the request of the Dean and Chapter and at other main English cathedrals.

Vasari’s substantial discography features recordings across a wide range of periods and styles, from Palestrina and Lotti, to Britten, Fauré, Kodály, and Swingle.  The Gramophone Award-nominated Howells Requiem and Frank Martin Mass was re-released by Signum in 2004 and the recent recordings of works by the French composer Marcel Dupré both received Gramophone’s  ‘Editor’s Choice’ accolade.

The choir performs regularly in London’s leading choral venues including St John’s, Smith Square and St Martin in the Fields, with repertoire ranging from Tallis’ Spem in Alium, the Bach motets, Rachmaninov’s Vespers, Parry’s Songs of Farewell, and Fanshawe’s African Sanctus, to works by living composers including James MacMillan, Jonathan Dove and Francis Pott.

Alongside its performances of works from the last 500 years, Vasari is committed to performing and promoting new choral music.  Since 2000 Vasari has commissioned 20 new pieces – with 10 new works to celebrate its 25^th anniversary - from British composers including Diana Burrell, Bob Chilcott, Humphrey Clucas, Howard Goodall and Roxanna Panufnik, Francis Pott, Gabriel Jackson, Richard Blackford and Will Todd.  In 2006, Vasari will premiere a large-scale choral commission by Francis Pott, The Cloud of Unknowing.

Vasari has recently agreed a new recording contract with Signum Records and has also recorded for the Guild Label, EMI, Virgin and Cala/United.  

Vasari Singers gratefully acknowledges financial support from the PRS Foundation, the RVW Trust, the Holst Foundation, the Michael Marks Foundation, the Leche Trust, the Kenneth Leighton Foundation and valuable assistance from our sponsors including La Sologne Publications, Sim Canetty-Clarke Photography, Metro Imaging and SLDesign.

SOPRANOS:

ALTOS:                                                                                 

TENORS:                                                                             

BASSES:                                                       

Vasari Singers on Guild Music

• GMCD 7314 - noël nouvelet
• GMCD 7302 - Ein Deutsches Requiem - Geistliches Lied
• GMCD 7267 - Deep Purple - Close Harmony Arrangements
• GMCD 7239 - La France au Calvaire
• GMCD 7220 - Marcel Dupré - Choral Works
• GMCD 7199  -Pastorale - French Choral Music
• GMCD 7161 - Zoltàn Kodàly (1882 - 1967) Choral Works
• GMCD 7153 - Max Kuhn
• GMCD 7148 - Crucifixus: Music for Holy Week
• GMCD 7132 - Songs of Farewell
• GMCD 7129 - 20th Century Cathedral Music

Select here to visit Vasari Singers home site

Page revised Thursday September 27 2007