The BBC Singers at full throttle at Milton Court

The BBC Singers with Sofi Jeannin at Milton Court
© BBC/Mark Allan (2022)

Emma Tring (soprano)

Albert Soriano (tenor)

Iain Farrington (organ)

BBC Singers

BBC Concert Orchestra

Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

7.30pm, Thursday 26 February 2026

Milton Court Concert Hall, London

★★★★

MacMillan, James (b.1959): Who are these angels?

Shaw, Caroline (b.1982): To the Hands

Weir, Judith (b.1954): My Guardian Angel

Rautavaara, Einojuhani (1928-2016): Die erste Elegie

Howells, Herbert (1892-1983): Hymnus Paradisi (orch. Farrington, Iain (b.1977))

'There was much to celebrate in this evening’s demonstration of this outstanding group of singers’ virtuosity, under the assured direction of Sofi Jeannin as she approaches the end of her tenure as Chief Conductor'. 

Shaw:

'The BBC Singers upper voices in particular demonstrated their command with pure and precise onsets in the third section, and all voices communicated the emotion and intent of Shaw’s message with affecting immediacy'.

Rauavaara:

'The BBC Singers were impressively on top of its challenges, from shrieking tenors at the opening to high sopranos emulating violins, and faultless tuning and pitching of leaping intervals'.

Howells:

'The BBC Singers relished the opportunity for much full-throated singing here'.

'This was an impressive performance and a strong showing of the BBC Singers’ continued command and expertise'.  

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Emma Tring, Albert Soriano, Sofi Jeannin,
he BBC Concert Orchestra & the BBC Singers
© Nick Boston

Two outstanding concerts for the price of one: Abel Selaocoe and the BBC Singers

Abel Selaocoe

Abel Selaocoe (cello, voice)

BBC Singers

Sofi Jeannin (conductor)

7.30pm, Friday 19 May 2023

Milton Court Concert Hall, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London

★★★★

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): All-Night Vigil, Op. 37 (Vespers)

Trad./Abel Selaocoe (b.1992): Music of African twilight

Rachmaninov:

'A perfect platform for the BBC Singers to demonstrate their unquestionable professional expertise and choral virtuosity'.

'Right from the flowing tempo set by Jeannin in Priidite, poklonimsya, and the smooth blend of voices, equally nimble at the climax, this was a commanding performance'. 

'This was one occasion where the transition back into Rachmaninov worked well, with the glorious rising tenor line of Voskres iz groba picking up beautifully from where Selaocoe’s moving elegy had left us'. 

Selaocoe:

'His energy was infectious, and the variety of vocal tones produced was astonishing, from low growls and overtones to floating high lines'. 

'Selaocoe gave us a lively round of call-and-response, including the audience, before calming things down with some incredibly quiet singing over soft choral harmonies from the singers, dying away to nothing'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Martyn Brabbins celebrates his 60th in style - Prom 35

Composers of
Pictured Within: Birthday Variations for M. C. B.
with Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Nadine Benjamin (soprano)
Idunnu Münch (mezzo-soprano)
William Morgan (tenor)
David Ireland (bass-baritone)

BBC Singers
ENO Chorus
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
Martyn Brabbins (conductor)

Tuesday 13 August 2019, 7pm

BBC Prom 35

Royal Albert Hall, London

★★★★

Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Various: Pictured Within: Birthday Variations for M. C. B. (world premiere)

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): Serenade to Music

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny), Op. 54

Edward Elgar (1857-1934): Variations on an Original Theme ('Enigma'), Op. 36

Pictures Within:
'A fun celebration ... in which Brabbins and the BBC SSO players clearly took great delight'.

'The set could well stand as a concert companion for the Elgar in the future'.

Vaughan Williams:
'The choral forces produced a beautifully warm blend, and their pianissimo first entry was highly effective'.

Elgar:
'A taut performance of Elgar’s Enigma Variations ... with no great surprises, ... just warmly and affectionately presented as they should be'.

Martyn Brabbins
© BBC/Chris Christodoulou

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Endings and beginnings: choral classics and a new commission from BBC Singers and Oramo - Proms at ... Cadogan Hall 6

© Benjamin Ealovega

BBC Singers
Sakari Oramo

Monday 20 August 2018

Proms at ... Cadogan Hall 6

Cadogan Hall, London

★★★★




Frank Bridge: Music, when soft voices die

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rest

Gustav Holst: Nunc dimittis

Laura Mvula: Love Like a Lion

Hubert Parry: Songs of Farewell -
1. My soul, there is a country
2. I know my soul hath power to know all things
3. Never weather-beaten sail
4. There is an old belief
5. At the sound earth's imagined corners
6. Lord, let me know mine end

'Oramo conducted with big gestures, shaping the dynamics and flow of the text with confidence'.

'Mvula draws on a variety of styles, yet combining them in a skilfully coherent way'.

'More choral compositions from Mvula must surely follow'.

'The BBC Singers agility in the winding lines and frantic entries was impressive'.

Read my full review on Bachtrack here.

Strikingly dramatic Weir in a convincing première from the BBC Singers and the Nash Ensemble - Proms at Southwark Cathedral

© BBC/Mark Allan

BBC Proms at ... Southwark Cathedral

Adrian Thompson (tenor)
Charles Gibbs (narrator)
Stephen Farr (organ)

BBC Singers
Nash Ensemble
David Hill (conductor)

Saturday 12 August, 2017
Southwark Cathedral

★★★★

David Hill (© BBC/Mark Allan)

Palestrina: 
Motet 'Confitebor tibi, Domine'
Missa 'Confitebor tibi, Domine'

Judith Weir:
'In the Land of Uz'

Palestrina:
'Hill shaped the rising and falling lines carefully'.

'Hill began this with some beautifully soft singing, warming for those final chords'.

 

Adrian Thompson & the BBC Singers
(© BBC/Mark Allan)

  Weir:
  'Adrian Thompson characterised the 
  role of Job with great presence'.

  'A powerful performance of a highly   
  effective, dramatic piece, with great
  variety, strong choral writing, and
  imaginative and unusual use of 
  instruments'.


  Read my full review on Bachtrack here.