ReviewsReviews"one of the world's finest choirs"
Rob Barnett, Classical MusicWeb International, October 2006
"there
is simply no better non-professional group in the land"
Gabriel Jackson, composer, March 2005
"I cannot imagine that it [La France au Calvaire]
will ever receive more committed or expert advocacy than it does from the performers
assembled here"
Classical MusicWeb March 03 (review of Dupré: La France au Calvaire CD)
"a really outstanding choir"
Ward Swingle, founder, Swingle Singers Feb 03
(choral jazz workshop directed by Ward Swingle)
"As for
Jeremy Backhouse and his superb Vasari Singers, they excel even by their own high
standards"
Gramophone Nov 02 (review of Dupré: La France au Calvaire CD)– Editors
Choice Award
"They are virtually semi-professional these days,
and their expertise is reflected in the way in which they cope with Dupré’s
score"
Classical MusicWeb Sept 02 (review of Dupré: La France au Calvaire CD)
"one of the finest small choral groups of our
time"
Gramophone Oct 01(review of Dupré: Choral Works CD) – Editors Choice
Award
"Superb singing from start to finish,
incredibly ambitious programme which made for a thrilling musical mixture"
Howard Goodall, composer and broadcaster, May 01
(Vasari 21st Anniversary Gala concert, St John’s Smith Square, London)
"a star performance and I've never heard better
amateur music-making – ever"
Jeremy Filsell, international concert pianist and organist, May 01
(Vasari 21st Anniversary Gala concert, St John’s Smith Square, London)
"they are polished professionals who sing with
commendable spirit"
American Record Guide April 01 (review of Pastorale: French choral works CD)
"This is distinguished singing from a superb
choir"
International Record Review Feb 01(review
of Pastorale: French choral works CD)
"The Vasari
Singers were powerful advocates for the music, with fine-boned contrapuntal singing,
muscular homophony and elegant phrasing throughout."
David Bray, music academic and publisher Feb 01
(Vasari concert, Holy Trinity Church, Clapham, London)
"The concert was superb: highlights were the O Magnum Mysterium and
the Berlioz, I've never heard it sung better - the pianissimo in the last verse was
breathtaking, and then the crescendo was out of this world."
Diana Dance, audience member at A Winter Journey, St Georges, Hanover
Square, London Dec 2000
"...In my 47 years here I have not heard better singing in this
church than that of the Vasari Singers."
Prebendary Dr Chad Varah MA OBE, Wedding of Fiona and Jeremy, St Stephen
Walbrook, City of London, October 2000
"The ever-reliable BBCSO and Andrew Davis launched the day with "The
Planets", expertly played and with at least one truly cosmic minute provided by the
Vasari Singers".
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer 25 July 1999 BBC Proms 99
“Lovely sound and atmosphere. Accomplished virtuoso singing, with great
panache and charm.”
Brian Wright, conductor, Sainsbury's Choir of the
Year 1988/9
“This choir can be used as an example to every other choir ... not only was
the pitch, light and shade, phrasing, etc. absolutely perfect, but they managed to make
each song sound individual. Overall, this was a remarkable performance.”
Rosalind Plowright, international opera singer,
Sainsbury's Choir of the Year 1988/9
“... outstanding, gifted, deeply musical and intensely committed -
performance mastery.”
Robert Matthew Walker, Choir and Organ
“The Vasari Singers sustained a degree of excellence which could carry them
internationally with credit. The choir moved impeccably from medieval France through
nineteenth-century Scandinavian repertoire (in the original languages) on to contemporary
music with absolute assurance of being specialists in every style. The Vasari Singers seem
to me a model, musically and technically, of what choral work can be at its best.”
Malcolm Williamson, Master of the Queen's Music, Sainsbury's
Choir of the Year 1988/9