Barber, S: Agnus Dei

Samuel Barber’s lyrical melodies and unabashed romanticism have earned him a cherished place in the pantheon of 20th-century composers. Recorded here are some of Barber’s finest works for choir (including the beloved 'Agnus Dei') alongside 2 world premières: a new version for chamber chorus and orchestra of Barber’s anguished work 'The Lovers' on poetry by Pablo Neruda, and a new version of 'Easter Chorale', which were both made by Robert Kyr for Craig Hella Johnson and Conspirare.

From its 1991 origins as a summer classical music festival in Austin, Texas, Conspirare has evolved into an internationally recognised, professional choral organisation known for outstanding vocal artistry and innovative programming. Led by founder and artistic director Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare comprises a professional chamber choir, a highly skilled volunteer Symphonic Choir, and an outstanding youth choir.

Conspirare’s critically acclaimed releases on the harmonia mundi label have earned copious praise. 'Threshold of Night' (2008) in particular, featured music by Tarik O’Regan and was nominated for Best Choral Performance and Best Classical Album at the Grammys.

This recording is compiled from the Armonico Consort’s Naked Byrd programmes, featuring music by composers who wore their hearts on their sleeves, and whose art saw their emotions laid bare, in an atmospheric concert where magical musical moments are intertwined with sublime passages of plainchant and violin improvisation. It follows on from their first volume in December 2009. Armonico Consort is, at its heart, a highly talented vocal ensemble that stages a wide variety of concerts.

The paired ancient and modern settings represented on the album showcase the vast range of music that the choir performs each season reflecting Christ’s birth, death and resurrection through the festivals of Advent, Christmas, Candlemas, Lent, Easter and Ascension. The rest of the year, known as Ordinary time, is focused more on Christ’s ministry on earth.

A Year at King’s includes such favourites as Allegri’s Miserere and Barber’s Agnus Dei, an arrangement of his famous Adagio for Strings, as well as the first recording of Tavener’s Away in a Manger, written for King’s College Choir’s 2004 ‘Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols’. The rest of the programme comprises works composed between the 15th and 20th centuries by Palestrina, Pärt and Poulenc, Lassus, Holst, Guerrero, Eccard, Peter Philips and Stanford. The disc is rounded off with a spectacular performance of Tallis’s Spem in alium. On this, as on many previous King’s College Choir recordings, the conductor is Stephen Cleobury, organist and Director of Music at King’s since 1982.

King Henry VI founded King’s College in 1441. Six centuries later, these daily services in the magnificent chapel that is one of the jewels of Britain’s cultural and architectural heritage are the raison d’être for, and a central part in, the lives of the Choir’s 16 choristers, 14 choral scholars and two organ scholars.

The international reputation of the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge was established by the radio broadcast worldwide of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols each Christmas Eve, heard currently by an audience estimated in the tens of millions, and has been consolidated by regular international tours and by the critical and commercial success of its EMI Classics releases.

In recent seasons the Choir has travelled throughout Europe as well as to the US, South America, Australia and Asia-Pacific for performances at churches, festivals and cultural centres. Of course, the Choir also performs extensively in the United Kingdom, appearing regularly at all the major halls in London and in the regions, both a cappella and with orchestras. In 2009 they joined other Cambridge artists, ensembles and the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis in a BBC Prom to mark the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University. This summer, they appear at the Cambridge and Chester Music Festivals, at the latter of which they perform two extracts from A Year at King’s.

Palm Sunday 2009 saw The Choir of King's College, Cambridge undertake a unique project in collaboration with Opus Arte and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Under the direction of Stephen Cleobury and partnered by the Academy of Ancient Music, the Choir's performance of Handel's Messiah in King's College Chapel was screened live by satellite to cinemas throughout the UK, mainland Europe and Northern America. This first ever live broadcast of a choral concert anywhere in the world was undertaken as part of the King's Easter Festival as well as to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the death of Handel and the 800th anniversary of Cambridge University. The CD of this performance was released by EMI Classics shortly following the event and the DVD in November 2009.

King's Choir played a key part in the BBC’s new Easter schedule in 2010: BBC TV broadcast Easter at King's, an Easter service sung by the Choir and filmed in the Chapel; BBC Radio 3 broadcast two concerts from King's over the Easter period, James MacMillan's St John and a concert of sacred music with the Britten Sinfonia.

The most recent releases by the Choir, under exclusive contract with EMI Classics, include the 80th anniversary broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols; the above-mentioned Handel’s Messiah on CD and DVD; England, My England, a patriotic collection of English choral favourites that topped the UK classical artist charts and became EMI Classics’ UK best-selling title of 2009; and a stunning selection of Tudor anthems entitled I Heard a Voice.

"A crowning glory of our civilisation" Sir Peter Maxwell Davies

"I would happily sit in King’s College Chapel listening to this choir sing for the rest of my days." Richard Morrison, The Times

Arrangements by Craig Hella Johnson.

This CD captures the exquisite sound of Conspirare's Company of Voices, as heard and seen on national television in the US. In this one-hour concert contemporary music blends seamlessly with classical favourites, taking the listener on a journey of innovative sound, vibrant images and thought-provoking ideas.The concert was performed and taped live on October 12 at Austin's Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Now in its 17th season, Conspirare is recognised for its emotionally resonant performances and an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences, providing listeners with an evocative and often transformative cultural experience. Under the artistic leadership of Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare has recorded 3 CDs and received four Grammy nominations. Its inaugural project for harmonia mundi usa, Threshold of Night, was released in September, 2008.

Some of the most celebrated recordings from Harry Christophers and his award-winning ensemble. Equally appealing to fans of The Sixteen and those who are new to the group, this disc provides a definitive collection of familiar classics and lesser-known treasures.