Join us for a special edition premiere of Monteverdi’s Vespers with Fiori Musicali

Choir of the Earth is thrilled to announce that this Friday, 25 October 2024, at 17:00 UK time (BST), we will premiere a special edition of Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, featuring the vocal and period instruments of the phenomenal Fiori Musicali, alongside the international voices of our global Choir.

This remarkable production, in collaboration with Fiori Musicali under the direction of Penelope Rapson, showcases a fusion of Fiori's 2011 live recording from Christ Church Oxford, featuring period instruments, with thousands of individually recorded tracks from our global online choir.

Over 8,000 individual tracks were carefully mixed with Fiori’s original recording by our world-class audio engineers, resulting in an epically powerful choral experience that transcends time and geography.

Click ‘Watch on YouTube’ to open the video in YouTube and take part in the live chat.

Monteverdi, a pivotal composer in the shift from Renaissance to Baroque music, created the Vespers of 1610 as a brilliant blend of sacred and secular styles, renowned for its complexity and beauty. This project is the first of its kind, as Choir of the Earth’s Musical Director, Ben England, led detailed online rehearsals, guiding singers worldwide with support from Fieri Consort's expertly prepared vocal rehearsal tracks.

A highlight of this special edition is a unique a cappella version of Nisi Dominus performed exclusively by Choir of the Earth’s international voices. This complex piece, never before heard in this form, is a testament to the extraordinary collaboration of singers from around the world and the unique malleability of the artform of digital choral singing.

Choir of the Earth has grown significantly since its founding in 2020 as The Self-Isolation Choir, performing major works such as Haydn’s The Creation and Mahler’s symphonies. This Monteverdi project represents another milestone in our journey of connecting singers worldwide.

Participants of this course have expressed how profoundly they were affected by the experience of learning and performing such a significant work. One member, Deborah from the USA, captured this sentiment perfectly, saying:

"This isn’t a piece one idly ends up learning as an ‘ordinary choir person,’ yet here so many of us are… still singing along to Nisi Dominus from memory. Unforgettable!"

Another member, Alison, reflected on the impact of being part of such a grand piece of music:

"What a privilege to be part of this music that has come to us through the ages. It is quite humbling to be part of this - beyond my wildest dreams."

Penelope Rapson, Director of Fiori Musicali, shared her thoughts on the final result:

"I was so intrigued by the concept of this project and by the passion of the Choir of the Earth team. The final product, given everything that went into it, is one of the most unique performances of Monteverdi I’ve heard."

Whether you’ve been part of our Vespers course or simply love beautiful music, we invite you to join us for this special edition premiere on Friday. If you can’t make it live, don’t worry - you can catch up in your own time and enjoy it later at the same link.

Join us for a remarkable celebration of music and community, and witness the result of thousands of hours of dedication, collaboration, and a shared passion for choral singing.

Watch the premiere on Friday 25 October 2024, at 17:00 UK time.