Voces8, a British vocal ensemble known for its performances of Renaissance polyphony and contemporary commissions, will make its Penn State debut with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, in Pasquerilla Spiritual Center on the University Park campus.
The acoustic program, “Light Divine: The Uplifting and Radiant Sounds of Voices in Harmony,” will feature works by Felix Mendelssohn, Thomas Tallis, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Giovanni Gabrieli, Claudio Monteverdi, Robert Louis Pearsall and others. The concert will also include jazz and pop selections announced from the stage.
Voces8, the flagship ensemble of the charitable music foundation Voces Cantabiles Music, leads music education workshops worldwide with the aim of inspiring creativity and excellence. The octet turned professional in 2007.
Classic FM in London said “the eight voices blend perfectly together, and the effect is hauntingly beautiful.” BBC Radio3 called the ensemble “the slickest of the lot. … Fans of a cappella ought to hear this.”
The group, regularly heard on international TV and radio programs, records for Decca Classics. Voces8’s 2014 debut for the label, “Eventide,” went straight to the top of the U.K. classical music chart. The 2015 follow-up, “Lux,” features renditions of songs by classical composers Gregorio Allegri and Edward Elgar, plus music by indie bands Massive Attack and Ben Folds Five.
In 2013, Voces8 was nominated for seven Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards and won two, for best classical album and best classical song.
Voces8 has performed at some of the world’s prominent venues, including Royal Festival Hall in London, Cité de la Musique Paris, Opera House Tel Aviv and Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. Artistic collaborations have included projects with Philharmonia and London Philharmonic orchestras and period ensemble Les Inventions.
Artistic Viewpoints will not be offered before the concert.
WPSU is the concert media sponsor.
To learn more about the presentation or for ticketing information, visit Voces8 or call 814-863-0255.
Watch the ensemble’s music video for “Stars.”
Find the Center for the Performing Arts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.