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Tenebrae is a vocal ensemble, founded and directed by former King’s Singer Nigel Short. Passion and Precision is Tenebrae’s motto and its members are drawn from musical backgrounds reflecting these qualities, such as the choirs of Westminster Abbey and Cathedral, King’s College Cambridge and from Britain’s two major opera houses, Covent Garden and English National Opera. This combination offers an impressive scope of choral experience and interpretative and dramatic skills giving the choir its exceptional range of vocal power and colour.
Tenebrae has built an impressive reputation for innovative and memorable performances at festivals and venues throughout the UK and Europe. Its ever-expanding performing schedule includes many return visits to venues, and also sees it making its Spanish debut in 2006 touring Path of Miracles to the
great churches of the Camino route, and the start of an association with
the LSO. Recordings on Signum Classics to date cover a wide range of
repertoire from the 16th to 21st century. Tenebrae will also appear on the
LSO Live label.
Ngel
Short began his career as a soloist in opera and oratorio and as a
member of specialist vocal ensembles such as The Tallis Scholars whilst
maintaining a regular involvement in church music, firstly as a member of
Westminster Abbey Choir then Westminster Cathedral. He joined the King’s
Singers when he was 27 and stayed with them for seven years.
After a short break of about one ski season in the Swiss Alps he set
about founding his own group, Tenebrae, aiming to bring together what he
loved best as a singer - namely the more passionate sounds of large
Cathedral choirs and the precision of ensembles like the King’s Singers
– to create a new kind of choral group. Whilst embracing an eclectic
repertoire he wanted to have some ‘signature’ works that would make
Tenebrae different, adding a theatrical element that would involve singers
moving around as if on stage. To that end he composed ‘The Dream of
Herod’, with a central role for baritone Colin Campbell, and
commissioned Joby Talbot to write Path of Miracles, premiered in July
2005. Since their debut in December 2001 Nigel and Tenebrae have given
concerts in Spain, Italy, Germany, France, UK, USA and Bermuda.
Nigel and the group have performed and recorded live with The Chamber
Orchestra of Europe for Warner Classics and have given several
performances with The English They record regularly with Signum Classics.
He now divides his time between directing Tenebrae and giving an ever
increasing number of masterclasses and workshops for both professional and
amateur vocal groups and choirs throughout Europe.
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