For anyone deeply involved in the great choral music of the past, the word “Tudor” has considerable resonance…It was this music that formed the centrepiece of the Luminous Voices concert Feb. 23, music of the now increasingly distant past, that still has the ability to charm listeners with its beauty, refinement, sensitive setting of texts, and warm vocal textures.

The opening program of Luminous Voices seventh season as Calgary’s professional choir was entitled Nymphs of the West. Today, we tend not to talk about nymphs very much, there being something de trop about these ancient Greek demigodesses…It was the world of nymphs, and love more generally, that inspired the music presented on this fascinating, beautifully sung program devoted almost entirely to contemporary choral music, music that on this occasion was accompanied not by the piano but by two harps.

For lovers of fine choral music, the last few weeks have been little short of miraculous. In late March, there was a superb performance of Mendelssohn Elijah, and on Good Friday there was, if anything, an even more finely crafted performance of J. S. Bach’s great St. John Passion…Connecting these two events is Timothy Shantz, conductor of both the CPO Chorus and Luminous Voices…

At the conclusion of last Sunday’s Luminous Voices concert I saw something I have never seen before: six Canadian composers simultaneously taking a bow at the end of a concert. The significance of the moment was quickly recognized by the audience, which rose as one to acknowledge not just the excellence of the performance, but, even more, to celebrate the composers whose music engaged, challenged, and, ultimately, thrilled those who experienced it.

Although this was a one-off concert, given its artistic success and the level of audience support, one can only hope the experiment will be repeated.

“The Tallis Scholars don't merely sing the black and whites, they perform everything in colour. Without them, music could not weep our saddest songs, our most profound truths.” Read the review by Stephan Bonfield for the April 28 edition of The Calgary Herald.

The review is in for Pärt's Berliner Messe, which launched our fifth anniversary season!  "[Luminous Voices'] contribution and importance to the increasingly sophisticated classical music scene in the city can hardly be overstated."

Though not a huge fan of choral music or operas, I was definitely won over (if at least for the time being!) after attending the packed Luminous Voices concert at the newly-opened Bella Concert Hall.

As choral singing, it is difficult to imagine anything more musically and vocally accomplished, each section of the group (of 24 singers on this occasion) beautifully blended and eloquent.

Luminous Voices has developed into a flexible choral ensemble of considerable technical accomplishment, remarkable for its blend, refinement, and polish. 

That music of this type could be heard performed to this level in our city is a cause for rejoicing. Choral performance in Alberta now takes its place with the best of modern Canadian choral singing.

The choral singing was, put simply, breathtakingly beautiful, enhanced by the sympathetic, warm acoustics of the new Bella Concert Hall — a perfect venue for such a concert.

Luminous Voices’ choral intonation, relaxed perfectly-paced tempi, and enduringly full harmonic spectra carried off with uncommon ease, comprise an art that conceals art, a gift that gives luminously

Timothy Shantz led the choir with both energy and grace, drawing from the ensemble sounds that were refined, balanced, and filled with inner life.