The sweet/sour harmonies of Warlock's Bethlehem Down are so deliciously balanced that it is difficult not to leap up from the fireside and press the backtrack button to hear this magical performance over and over again - International Record Review
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A leading light in the world of youth choral music, the Rodolfus Choir is made up of choristers from ages 16-25 who are past and present participants of the Eton Choral Courses, begun by the choir's director Ralph Allwood in 1980. This new Christmas programme mixes the familiar with works not usually heard in carol services – such as Tomas Luis de Victoria's stunning eight-part, two-choir Ave Maria (from an edition prepared by John Rutter), and more recent works such as Chris Chivers' Ecce Puer and Eric Whitacre's Lux Aurumque. Such a programme is well-suited to a choir with the versatility and enthusiasm of the Rodolfus choir. [The choir’s] discipline and diction throughout a testing programme is exemplary - The Daily Mail Beautifully sung - The Daily Telegraph The freshness of attack you get with younger voices is put to incisive use by conductor Ralph Allwood, whose Rodolfus singers are all products of the famous Eton choral courses - BBC Music Magazine -
International award-winning octet Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella vocal group. Performing a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour. A Choral Tapestry explores the rich vocal timbres of sacred vocal music spanning five centuries. Interweaving genres create an ethereal sonic tapestry that centres around the haunting beauty of William Byrd's Mass for Four Voices. The programme includes anthems and motets from the English Chapel Royal, the Sistine Chapel in Rome and St. Thomas' Church, Leipzig. VOCES8 are as good as any vocal ensemble I have heard for many a year and the material on this CD is well chosen and superbly sung - Cross Rhythms Following their Bach Motets, choral octet Voces8 branch further afield with A Choral Tapestry, programming devotional material from across the spectrum - The Independent -
An album of newly recorded works for Christmas by rising star composer Kristina Arakelyan. This is the first recording by the Choir of King’s College London, conducted by Joseph Fort on Signum Records. “While preparing this album, I have been struck by many aspects of Kristina’s music, and have talked with her about it at length... She approaches the compositional task as an exercise in conveying this emotion and stirring it in her listeners, and I hope that this comes through in our performances” - Joseph Fort 9/10 - “Arakelyan's music is melodious, pays careful attention to the well-chosen texts she is setting, and rewards the careful listener.” - CrossRhythms "This is a breathtakingly good selection in which we hear the influence of modal chants and Armenian church traditions fused with an English choral blend" - Gramophone -
Formed in 1992, the British percussion quartet ensemblebash has forged a reputation as one of the world’s most innovative and groundbreaking chamber ensembles. Using the music of West Africa as both core repertoire and a guiding spiritual influence, ensemblebash mixes contemporary classical, jazz and music theatre into unforgettable performances. This new recording marks 20 years since the formation of the group, with the programme made up of some of their best commissions from the 2002 to 2012. ensemblebash [make] playing percussion the coolest, noisiest and funniest occupation on earth - The Times A marvellous CD from the Bashers to show off your newest playing equipment. Most of it is not loud; intricate subtleties from these multi-instrumentalists dominate the listening experience - Musical Pointers -
The Psalms of David are arguably the portion of the Old Testament that has been enfolded most completely within the Christian tradition and its liturgies. Their messages of strife and joy, prayer and praise, resonate strong and loud alongside the teachings of Jesus, and find special expression in musical settings. This disc is an exploration of all these themes, as interpreted by composers over the course of four and a half centuries – with music by Allegri, Bernstein, Byrd, Parry, Purcell and Wesley. The Temple Church is one of the most historic and beautiful churches in London. Situated between Fleet Street and the Thames Embankment, its recorded musical history extends back to its restoration in 1841, although a church has stood on the site for over 800 years. This is Signum’s second disc with the choir, following 2010’s release of ‘The Majesty of Thy Glory’ (SIGCD225). Such enterprising and polished music-making deserves widespread currency. The engineering and editing are faultless, the booklet comprehensive and informative. Many choirs (and organists) could learn much from this jubilant release, which proves that the Temple Church Choir is among the very best. Strongly recommended - Gramophone The highlight is the beautiful version of Allegri's Miserere mei, Dues, with its solo treble soaring high - The IndependentThe polish of the choir's singing, combining a beautifully honed treble line with characterful yet restrained adult voices, is all recorded with fine balance. Copious sleeve notes add value to a very attractive release - Choir and OrganAs heard here, the choir of 18 boys and 12 men has a highly impressive and solid choral tone well served by a warm recorded sound and excellent presence. They are clearly one of the finest choirs in England ... If this recording is any indication, [Vivian's] work with the choir is outstanding - American Record Guide
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"A House of Ghosts is a sequence of a dozen short pieces concerned with the past, whether imagined, historical or (as in the case of the final piece) autobiographical. These movements are combined here with freestanding longer items, where sea music (Farewell to Hirta and Hunt's Bay) is mixed with explorations of elusive memory (Le Temps qui n'est plus and Drowned Summer). Gently distinctive in its harmonic and tonal language, this music is the work of a professional pianist-composer with a refined and subtle insight into the physical and textural properties of the instrument." - Duncan Honeybourne “Definitely worth exploring” - International Piano -
The Temple Church Choir gives the world premiere recording of Nico Muhly’s Our present charter – a brand new four-movement work commissioned by the choir to celebrate 800 years since the sealing of the Magna Carta. Directed by Roger Sayer and featuring organist Greg Morris, the recording also features choral works by Parry, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Bairstow, Tavener and Haydn.
★★★★★ Sensitive interpretations enhance the excellence of the singing... Highly Reccomended - Choir & Organ ★★★★ Under their new director Roger Sayer the choir is obviously on strong form - Planet Hugill These superb recordings serve as sonorous reminders of the British choral tradition and its vibrant contemporary life - Opera News -
To mark the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth, Ivana Gavrić releases a little amuse-bouche: Ravel's short waltz in the manner of Borodin, one of his favourite composers. Despite its brevity, it is as if À la manière de Borodine takes us on a whirlwind spin around the clubs in Paris Ravel frequented nightly; it beautifully captures much of Ravel’s spirit, his love for dance, especially the waltz. Ravel reportedly believed that every composer secretly wished they could write an excellent waltz, but most were put off by the difficulty and the wealth of enviable examples already in the repertoire.
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Following their debut EP Serenity, Meridian and Irene Messoloras return to Signum Classics with their first holiday release—A Meridian Christmas. Recorded at All Hallows Gospel Oak, London, this enchanting Christmas collection captures the spirit of the season with warmth, clarity, and elegance. Shaped by Meridian’s signature blend, the album offers a soundscape of carols and seasonal works that is both intimate and classic. From Ben Parry’s tender All Through the Night to Carol Jennings’s cheerful Ding Dong! Merrily on High and Ola Gjeilo’s festive The Holly and the Ivy, each piece captures a distinctive mood of the season. The program further features Paul Manz’s E’en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come, offering a moment of quiet yearning and hope, and A Great and Mighty Wonder arranged by Erling Pederson, resounding in radiant proclamation. Together, these works trace the season’s arc—from quiet reflection to joyful celebration. Meridian Meridian is a London-based professional chamber choir founded and directed by Irene Messoloras. With a sound defined by clarity, balance, and expressive depth, the ensemble brings together early and contemporary repertoire to create a richly contemplative musical experience. Meridian’s members are drawn from outstanding ensemble backgrounds such as Tenebrae, the Monteverdi Choir, and The Sixteen. This combination weaves together a broad variety of choral experience, giving the choir an exceptional range of vocal power and colour. Irene Messoloras Irene Messoloras is an award-winning conductor dedicated to inspiring musicians and audiences through excellence in choral performance. Based in Southern California, she leads professional, university, and community ensembles on renowned stages worldwide. "A Meridian Christmas is a solid programme of favourite carols in attractive arrangements." - Gramophone -
Signum’s second disc with the Choir of the Queen’s College Oxford is centred around the concept of ‘relevation’, both divine revelation (particularly the apocalyptic visions of the Book of Revelation) and revelatory visions of earth and heaven. The bulk of the pieces on the recording are inspired by the extraordinary visions of John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, describing the ravaging of the world through divine judgement, the battles between good and evil, and the world’s eventual remaking as ‘a new heaven and a new earth’ in which death and suffering are no more. The disc features three new commissions, by Phillip Cooke, Toby Young and Marco Galvani, who was a final-year student at Queen’s at the time of recording. -
The Gabrieli Consort and Players return to the programme that put them on the musical map when it was originally recorded and released in 1990: A Venetian Coronation 1595 is a musical re-creation evoking the grand pageantry of the Coronation Mass for Venetian Doge Marino Grimani. His love of ceremony and state festivals fuelled an extraordinary musical bounty during his reign and formed the background to the musical riches of the period, especially to the works of Giovanni Gabrieli. With cornetts, sackbuts and an all-male consort, Paul McCreesh fully exploits the dazzling polyphony of Andrea and Giovanni Gabrieli’s music and captivates the audience in a theatrical and ceremonious performance. Two decades later, the Gabrieli's New Venetian Coronation takes advantage of huge developments in early instruments, performance techniques and research into the pieces that were on the original (as well as advances in recording techniques). Even if you own the classic Virgin disc, this new version is a must-buy - The Sunday Times Never less than enthralling - The Independent McCreesh's new take on his classic recording is a triumph … Highly recommended to both first- and second-time buyers, and on track to inspire yet another generation - BBC Radio 3 Record Review -
Returning for their third album on Signum Classics, Anna Lapwood and The Choirs of Pembroke College, Cambridge present their first Christmas album featuring a wide range of festive repertoire from traditional carols to works by contemporary composers including Sir James MacMillan and Melissa Dunphy. In addition the album premieres three new works written by the Pembroke Girls' Choir including an arrangement of the familiar carol Gaudete. Anna Lapwood is a trailblazing musician. Alongside her work as a conductor, Director of Music and public speaker, she performs an extensive number of organ recitals on some of the greatest instruments across Europe each season. In 2022 she was announced as Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall and Artist in Association at BBC Singers. Directed by Anna Lapwood, The Chapel Choir of Pembroke College has one of the most exciting and varied ranges of choral endeavours among Oxbridge choirs. Alongside their primary responsibility of contributing to worship in the College’s Chapel, they engage in regular artistic collaborations, media appearances and outreach. ★★★★ "Highlights include a numinous take on MacMillan's 'O Radiant Dawn', Ailsa McTernan's soaring solo in Patricia Van Ness's 'Archangelus' and a performance of Kerensa Brigg's 'A Tender Shoot' which shows the Chapel Choir's vibrant tonal blend and intelligent enunciation at their best…an inspiring recital" - BBC Music Magazine "In the latest recording released on Signum by Anna Lapwood and the Chapel Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge, the soft smooth sounds of the central chorus combined with the crystal clear lines of the upper voices makes for a reflective experience. I’ve listened to it repeatedly over the past few days" - Thoroughly Good "What makes this album unique is a trio of carol arrangements developed in rehearsal by the choristers themselves" - Gramophone -
“Percussionist extraordinaire Joby Burgess” returns with his fifth album on Signum Records, “A Percussionist’s Songbook” – a collection of specially commissioned ‘songs without words’ from John Metcalfe, Tunde Jegede, Dario Marianelli, Yazz Ahmed, Graham Fitkin, Dobrinka Tabakova and Gabriel Prokofiev. Scored for an arsenal of pitched percussion and electronics the songbook is inspired by texts ranging from the poetry of Robert Graves and Birago Diop to novels by Michael Ondaatje and Isaac Asimov; American philosopher Michael Sandel, songwriter Peter Gabriel, United Nation population growth statistics and Saudi Arabian folk tales. "His recordings are so full of vibrant energy, vitality and freshness…the virtuoso percussionist's technical brilliance, fantastic agility and coordination, and innate musicality. 'A Percussionist's Songbook' may well be Burgess's best album yet" - Gramophone ★★★★ Performance, ★★★★★ Recording "Combining a multi-genre passion for contemporary western music with explorations of ancient global traditions, Joby Burgess has done much to foster the art of percussion" - BBC Music Magazine "A fascinating record with wide-ranging ambition and, surely, mass appeal. Joby Burgess has created a release for classical label Signum that could sit equally comfortably in the rock or ‘world’ genres, such are its broad range of influences and audible sense of adventure…Warmly recommended." Art Muse London -
Signum Classics present a new digital only album of works by award winning composer Joanna Marsh – A Plastic Theatre and other choral works. A Plastic Theatre takes its name from a theatrical text written by Katie Schaag that Joanna has set for a commission for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Youth Company in 2023: a 20-minute work for the orchestra, mezzo soloist Jennifer Johnston and the RLPO Youth Choir and Children’s Choir. The live World Premiere performance of this work is the centrepiece of this album which also provides an opportunity to feature some of her recent commissions written for I Fagiolini in 2021. Their four pieces were commissioned for a programme called, Rewilding the Wasteland which thanks to renowned ensemble VOCES8, who hosted an online concert series during the Covid pandemic, was widely viewed globally. VOCES8 also join forces with I Fagiolini in one of these tracks, Now I Lay. The Lyons Mouth bring a fresh and vibrant quality to some of Marsh’s newest works that are receiving their recording premieres on this album including Ivor Novello Composer Award winning work, All Shall Be Well. “It is a joy to share this collection of my latest works with you, and I hope you find as much pleasure in listening to them as I found in creating them” – Joanna Marsh -
Mixing iconic choral works with music by some of today’s most exciting composers, this varied programme is centred around themes of rest. Joel Thompson’s virtuosic new work is a particular highlight: written in 15 parts, A Prayer for Deliverance perfectly showcases Tenebrae’s core values of passion and precision. The second half features Herbert Howells’ Requiem – surely one of the most moving works in the English choral repertoire. Associated with the untimely death of Howells’ young son Michael, the work remained unknown until it was finally published just three years before Howells’ own death in 1983. ALBUM OF THE YEAR - BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE 2026 WINNER - CHORAL CATEGORY BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE 2026 ★★★★★ - “This latest recording once again showcases his singer’s effortless versatility both as choristers and soloists, with a capella singing that is precise yet never precious, highly disciplined yet unaffected and warm” - BBC Music Magazine“This is one of the best new choral discs that has come my way for quite some time.” - Music Week International
“The quality of the a cappella singing on this set by the renowned choir Tenebrae is truly superlative in all departments” - Cross Rhythms "In this recording, the voices of the Tenebrae choir offer more poignant interpretations, characterised by a reading marked by restraint, intensity and a deep respect for the text and music." - Sonograma -
An invitation to stroll through the world of one of England’s greatest composers The young, virtuoso A Cappella ensemble VOCES8 return to disc on Signum with a sumptuous collection of early works by Henry Purcell. Joined by the specialist early-music ensemble ‘Les Inventions’, the group explores Purcell’s astoundingly diverse output – there is hardly a genre in which he did not express himself: anthems, odes, funeral music, semi- operas, masques, sonatas, consort-music, songs and catches populate his extraordinarily multifaceted œuvre. It is this astonishing diversity that we wish to celebrate by inviting the listener for a stroll through the world of one of England’s greatest composers.If anyone ever doubts Purcell's consummate genius, this CD - beautifully recorded and executed - ought to convince them. A great introduction to Purcell's many guises - Choir and Organ
You won't hear Purcell sung better - Planet Hugill
This is a lovely collection, reflective of the composer's eclectic talents, and beautifully performed - Early Music Review