2016 marked the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, he died at age 52. His international influence has produced a plethora of works in all artistic mediums since his death. One particular phrase, full fathom five, from Shakespeare’s play The Tempest, has been repeatedly used in English-language culture over the four centuries since its composition. The phrase (see below), […]
Very few western choral works have experienced a musical evolution (alongside legendary tales) like Allegri’s Miserere mei, Deus. This a capella choral piece was first sung in the Sistine Chapel during the 1630s. It was considered so sublime that the Pope forbade the transcription the music and prohibited it being performed anywhere else. According to legend, W.A. Mozart […]
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco described Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880 – 1968) as “without doubt the greatest vocal polyphonist Italy has had since the glorious fifteen-hundreds” (Source). Pizzetti’s Requiem, written in 1922, revealed his empathy with vocal polyphony. In 1937, he composed De Profundis for seven-part mixed voices based on text from Psalm 130. This sonorous piece received high […]
Vancouver Cantata Singers sold-out our very popular Christmas Reprise on December 17th, 2016 at Holy Rosary Cathedral. VCS also performed a second Christmas Reprise at the Anvil Centre in New Westminister on December 21st, 2016. Thank you for being a part of this cherished holiday tradition! Photo Credit: Jesse Read
Celebrating choral excellence since 1959.
