Review of VOCES8 at Stockbridge Music, 9 May 2025
VOCES8’s reputation for fabulous ensemble singing ensured a capacity, enthusiastic audience at St Peter’s Church, Stockbridge on 9 May and the concert given by the a capella ensemble sold out so quickly that a matinée had to be added to the evening performance. Owing to a family illness soprano Andrea Haines had to withdraw at the last minute and was replaced by Ailsa Campbell, a former holder of a VOCES8 scholarship. Her pure tone blended superbly with the seven other voices and an engaging stage presence came to the fore in several of the items as the singers responded to the texts.
Beginning with the joyful sound of ‘O clap your hands’ by Orlando Gibbons, the group then presented three items which displayed the poise and control of their singing: Gibbons ‘Drop, drop slow tears’, ‘Ubi caritas’ by the Norwegian Ola Gjeilo and ‘The long day closes’ by Arthur Sullivan. Beautiful tone and pure intonation created a mood of rapt stillness. Alexander L’Estrange’s arrangement of Paul Simon’s ‘The Sound of Silence’ displayed the tight vocal harmonies that are such a feature of VOCES8, a precision that was also to be found in Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’ and the Swingle Singers’ version of a Bach ‘Bourée’.
If an entire concert of a capella vocal music might sound daunting to some, VOCES8 proved otherwise, introducing moments of humour and light-heartedness. There was an engaging flirtiness to Thomas Weelkes’ ‘As Vesta was from Latmos Hill descending’ and Orlando di Lasso’s ‘Dessus le Marché d’Arras’, while Nat King Cole’s ‘Straighten up and fly right’ had terrific jazzy swing. While some classical singers sound rather unconvincing when they move to lighter repertoire there are no such qualms with VOCES8 who glide with ease across the stylistic barriers, even adding percussive effects and choreographed moves. If evidence were required as to why they are one of the foremost vocal ensembles then one needed to look no further than the final two items in the concert, both a mix of classic jazz standards. ‘I get a kick out of New York’ and ‘Come fly with me/Fly me to the moon’ displayed precision, tight ensemble, spotless intonation and humour. Wonderful audience communication and outstanding singing.
Duncan Eves
