Oxford voices, English choral song, at the Angers Main Theater

The English ensemble Oxford voices, "a semi-professional choir specialising in the performance of 16th and 17th century choral music", will perform at the Main Theater of Angers on january 11th. "Founded by conductor Mark Shepherd in 2003, the group, typically made up of fourteen singers, has become well-known as one of the leading exponents of early European sacred music and gives regular concerts in both the UK and abroad". 

Credit picture : La Toison d'Art

The choir will interpret next tuesday pieces of English composers like Byrd, Tallis, Gibbons, Williams, Britten and Tippet as well as Italian composers. While "the choir is occasionally joined by period instruments for larger concerts and festivals, the majority of the ensemble’s wide repertoire is performed a cappella, and is composed of mixed voices". In 2002, Oxford voices recorded its first disc and on the following year made a France tour.

The choir is constituted by persons mostly graduated from Cambridge and Oxford who all share the passion of polyphonic music and all heirs of the English choral song.