Chamber Choir Performs in Prestigious Concert with The Armonico Consort

Last week, the Chamber Choir had the honour of being special guests in a concert with the prestigious professional choir, The Armonico Consort, at Malvern Theatres.

This event marked the third time in the past six years that these two choirs have collaborated. The concert, called Supersize Polyphony 2, featured a selection of pieces with multiple voice parts, including one of the most famous works in choral literature, Thomas Tallis’s Spem in Alium.

Tallis’s masterpiece was composed for eight 5-part choirs, creating an awe-inspiring 40-part harmony that resonates deeply with audiences, particularly in this case as the professional singers surrounded the audience to create a fully immersive audio experience.

Adding to the excitement of the evening, the concert also included the world premiere of Lamentations, an evocative new work by Hollywood composer David Buckley. Buckley, renowned for his contributions to film and television scores including Angel Has Fallen, Fifty Shades of Grey, Shrek III, The Lincoln Lawyer, and The Good Wife, brought a fresh and modern element to the programme. The Chamber Choir had a significant role in this large-scale, unaccompanied piece contributing several sections independently from the professional singers.

Significantly, the King’s Chamber Choir was the only senior school choir involved in this prestigious event, sharing the stage with three local primary schools.

The conductor of the choir, Christopher Monks, expressed his admiration and gratitude, writing: “The fabulous singers of the King’s School Chamber Choir were integral in making the concert so brilliant. They were so patient and flexible with the preparation of a world premiere, and in the performance they totally did themselves proud. They were an inspiration to the young singers behind them.”