Vox Luminis at Cadogan Hall - 31.05.18 (Radio 3 at 19:30)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Radio 3 in Concert

Vox Luminis was founded by its artistic director Lionel Meunier only in 2004 but the Belgian vocal ensemble has quickly gained an international reputation. Their concert, recorded last week as part of the Choral at Cadogan series, showcases some of the supreme masterpieces of English polyphony, including John Sheppard's epic Media vita, one of the greatest of all settings from the Tudor period, unique in its scale and expressive power.

Programme includes:
Thomas Tallis: O nata lux
Robert White: Christe, qui lux es et dies I
John Sheppard: In manus tuas
John Sheppard: Media vita
Thomas Tallis: Lamentations of Jeremiah I & II
Thomas Tomkins: Funeral Sentences

Vox Luminis
Lionel Meunier (director).

[doversoul1]

The ensemble doesn’t always come off well in live broadcast but ‘not very good’ by their standard is far better than average good (whatever that is). I’m very much looking forward to it.

[Serial_Apologist]

I would have gone along to this. Unfortunately I clean forgot it was on!

[doversoul1]

Anybody listening? I would prefer the sound to be slightly more remote but other than that this is a treat as the major concert of the day.

[LeMartinPecheur]

Listening & enjoying!

I hope to be doing more of this soon, and possibly being a bit more involved on this here bored(*) - I had my voluntary redundancy confirmed today. Not a big shock as I'm 64 and kinda overdue retirement

(*) Am open to bribes if you'd much rather I didn't!

[DracoM]

Well, Vox Luminis are among my favourites, BUT the wretched applause seemingly every few minutes!!
This was a recording, so they could easily and with some profit have erased some if it, surely.

Drove me round the bend. Switched off in the end.

What I stayed to hear sounded excellent - seemd at a pretty low pitch for some of this repertoire?

[Dermot]

At the age of seventy, I have just listened to Sheppard's media vita for the first time. Any attempt I might make to describe its effect on me would be trite and sound like the old Smirnoff advertisement. I can only echo the words of Kenneth Clark, writing of Michelangelo's late drawings of the Crucifixion, that ''...we reach a realm of the spirit where analysis is inappropriate and critical language inadequate. We can only be grateful that we have been permitted to catch a glimpse of the nobilissima visione.''

[vinteuil]

At the age of seventy, I have just listened to Sheppard's media vita for the first time. Any attempt I might make to describe its effect on me would be trite and sound like the old Smirnoff advertisement. I can only echo the words of Kenneth Clark, writing of Michelangelo's late drawings of the Crucifixion, that ''...we reach a realm of the spirit where analysis is inappropriate and critical language inadequate. We can only be grateful that we have been permitted to catch a glimpse of the nobilissima visione.''

... I am so happy that you have heard it, experienced it. Only sad that you hadn't had it in your life many years ago!


.

[DracoM]

At the age of seventy, I have just listened to Sheppard's media vita for the first time. Any attempt I might make to describe its effect on me would be trite and sound like the old Smirnoff advertisement. I can only echo the words of Kenneth Clark, writing of Michelangelo's late drawings of the Crucifixion, that ''...we reach a realm of the spirit where analysis is inappropriate and critical language inadequate. We can only be grateful that we have been permitted to catch a glimpse of the nobilissima visione.''

Try Westminster Cathedral / Martin Baker's Cd on same repertoire.
Or Christ Church Cathedral Oxford / Darlington

[vinteuil]

Try Westminster Cathedral / Martin Baker's Cd on same repertoire.
Or Christ Church Cathedral Oxford / Darlington

... they are good in their way - but surely preferable are :

Stile Antico -

http://amzn.eu/iBw6oP2

or the Tallis Scholars -

http://amzn.eu/6DfRkBY

.

[edashtav]

Fine singing of some wonderful music but... in terms of programme building... I questioned starting with the merry cheer of Christmas followed by an unrelenting descent into gloom led by the Grim Reaper?

[Nick Armstrong]

At the age of seventy, I have just listened to Sheppard's media vita for the first time.

It's one of my desert island pieces. As vinteuil says, you can't go wrong with Stile Antico.

Looking forward to hearing the Vox Luminis performance.

[jean]

... they are good in their way - but surely preferable are :

Stile Antico -

http://amzn.eu/iBw6oP2

or the Tallis Scholars -

http://amzn.eu/6DfRkBY

Only if you can tolerate women on the top line!