Choir biography

Since its re-formation in 2006, English Voices has rapidly established a reputation as an outstanding vocal ensemble. Its founder and Artistic Director, Timothy Brown, is one of the world’s most sought-after choral directors, and his precision and passion are mirrored in the talented singers with whom he works – all aspiring young soloists who also enjoy singing together in ensemble.

Among the many strengths of English Voices are its extraordinary musicality and flexibility – and the variety of performances given over the last two years bear testimony to these qualities. The group brings a distinctive colour to all its work, whether in concert performance, on the opera stage, or in liturgical context. English Voices has developed a special following with ensembles that dedicate themselves to historically-informed techniques; it has worked with, among others, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academie für Alte Musik Berlin, and Concerto Vocale, and is currently developing an artistic relationship with one of the UK’s most prolific period ensembles. In addition to the concerts it has given with its Artistic Director (which include Solomon in the Lufthansa Festival with Academie für Alte Musik Berlin) it has performed under the baton of Ivor Bolton, René Jacobs, and Gustav Leonhardt. Recent engagements include concert performances of Rossini’s Tancredi with the Orchestre des Champs-Èlysèes (René Jacobs), and the opening concert in the 2008 Mozartwoche, Salzburg, with the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg (Ivor Bolton).

In summer 2007 English Voices made its operatic début in the prestigious Aix-en-Provence Festival with staged performances of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo, collaborating with many leading artists in a realisation of the challenging choreography of Trisha Brown’s extraordinary production of 1999, earning the following review in Le Monde: “English Voices demonstrate a beautiful cohesion without neglecting the frequently complex choreography (they manage to integrate with the dancers so well that one can’t tell the difference between dancer and singer)…”.

The ensemble envelops all genres and periods of music – including contemporary works: in 2007 it gave the first performance of Graham Ross’s ‘Precor te, Domine’. Future plans include performances in the major festivals and concert hall across Europe and the USA.