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.