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Jeremy Backhouse, one of Britain’s leading choral directors, has been the sole conductor of the Vasari Singers chamber choir since its inception in 1980. The ensemble has broadcast frequently on BBC Radio and Classic FM, and has built a discography of more than thirty acclaimed albums across several labels, including Naxos. Reviewing their album Heaven Full of Stars (8.574179), American Record Guide noted how ‘the performances are exquisite—perfect intonation, blend, expression, musicality, and sheer beauty of choral sound.’
The Music Never Ends
Close Harmony Songs
by Ellington • Shearing
Sondheim • Legrand
The Beatles • The Swingles
Gareth Giles, PianoGareth Huw Davies, Double bass
Vasari Singers • Jeremy Backhouse
Close harmony singing is the vocal equivalent of a jazz big band, and this programme is the Vasari Singers’ personal tour of a style in which they have excelled for years. Their connection with Ward Swingle and the pioneering Swingle Singers is explored in arrangements ranging from traditional folk songs such as the haunting Danny Boy, to favourites by The Beatles and the delicious harmonies of Stephen Sondheim. George Shearing’s English musical background and American jazz influence combine in his Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare, and the album closes with a cleverly integrated and up-beat version of Duke Ellington’s classic It don’t mean a thing (if it ain’t got that swing).
Double bass
Piano
Jeremy Backhouse, one of Britain’s leading choral directors, has been the sole conductor of the renowned chamber choir Vasari Singers from its inception in 1980. Since winning the prestigious Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition in 1988, the ensemble has broadcast frequently on BBC Radio and Classic FM, and has a discography of over 30 acclaimed albums on EMI, Guild, Signum, Naxos and its own VasariMedia label. Jeremy has also worked with other leading UK choirs, including the BBC Singers, London Symphony Chorus, the Philharmonia Chorus, The London Chorus and Brighton Festival Chorus.
Vasari Singers was founded in 1980 and is regarded as one of the leading chamber choirs in Britain. Under the direction of its founder-conductor Jeremy Backhouse, Vasari Singers performs a wide range of repertoire, from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir regularly sings at major concert venues and other locations in London and elsewhere, including abroad. The ensemble’s extensive discography includes a large collection of premiere recordings, many of them commissions, as well as three collections of Christmas music.
Parry • Stanford • Stainer • Naylor
Walton • Holst • Finzi
Vasari Singers
Backhouse
– MusicWeb International
– MusicWeb International
– Gramophone
– International Record Review