Corvus Consort proudly present their new project The Tempest, a choral soundscape inspired by one of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays and a major addition to their set of dynamic and inspired programmes.
Through vocal settings of the play’s poetic and magical texts and underscored recitations of some of its most memorable speeches, Corvus Consort lead the audience through the the story of The Tempest, as told through song. Vaughan Williams’ Three Shakespeare Songs sit at the heart of the programme alongside Frank Martin’s Five Songs of Ariel, as well as works by Cecilia McDowall, John Rutter, Amy Beach, Shakespeare’s contemporary Robert Johnson and Joan Armatrading. Jonathan Dove’s Ariel for solo soprano evokes the play’s ethereal sprite and weaves the programme together.
Described as “dazzling” and “always full of fresh thinking” by BBC Music Magazine, Corvus’s innovative programming and artistic versatility see them perform in a wide variety of genres and styles, ranging from Renaissance polyphony and Baroque motets right through to 20th century music and contemporary choral works.
Alongside ‘The Tempest’, Corvus Consort offers a set of programmes that demonstrate their musical excellence, passionate performance and imaginative presentation, both as a stand alone ensemble and with esteemed collaborators. ‘Shared Ground’ sees Corvus in collaboration with violinist Fenella Humphreys in a musical exploration of the poetry of 17th-century metaphysical poet George Herbert. The programme explores Herbert’s influence on multiple generations of composers and poets, and features works by Judith Weir, James MacMillan, Alec Roth and Nathan James Dearden.
‘Welcome Joy’ unites the upper voices of Corvus with their longstanding collaborator, harpist Louise Thomson for a programme devoted to women’s voices, both vocal and compositional. Released on disc to critical acclaim in 2024, ‘Welcome Joy’ brings together the music of Imogen Holst, Elizabeth Poston, Judith Weir and other talented living female composers, as well as Gustav Holst and a brand new commission from Shruthi Rajasekar. This programme is also available in version suitable for concerts in the festive season, combining music from ‘Welcome Joy’ with Britten’s Ceremony of Carols.
‘A Million Nightingales’ is a portrait of the way in which musicians and poets have responded to birdsong throughout the centuries. This programme showcases the ensemble’s artistic versatility through a combination of renaissance madrigals, traditional folksongs, 20th-century British music, and contemporary works by leading living composers.
To view Corvus Consort’s complete list of available programmes, please click here.
