| Biography | Now in its 35th year, The Sixteen is recognised as one of the worlds greatest ensembles. Comprising both choir and period-instrument orchestra, The Sixteens total commitment to the music it performs is its greatest distinction. A special reputation for performing early English polyphony, masterpieces of the Renaissance, bringing fresh insights into Baroque and early Classical music and a diversity of 20th- and 21st-century music, is drawn from the passions of Founder and Conductor Harry Christophers CBE.
At home in the UK The Sixteen are The Voices of Classic FM and Associate Artists of The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. The group promotes The Choral Pilgrimage, an annual tour of the UKs finest cathedrals which aims to bring music back to the buildings for which it was written. The Sixteen features in the highly successful BBC television series, Sacred Music, presented by actor Simon Russell Beale the latest hour-long programme was aired in December 2011, marking the 400th anniversary of the death of the Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria.
The Sixteen tours throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas and has given regular performances at major concert halls and festivals worldwide, including the Barbican (London), The Bridgewater Hall (Manchester), Cité de la musique (Paris), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and Sydney Opera House. Festival appearances include the BBC Proms, Hong Kong, Wellington, Granada, Lucerne, Edinburgh, Istanbul, Prague, Bremen, La Chaise Dieu and Salzburg.
Over 100 recordings reflect The Sixteens quality in a range of work spanning the music of 500 years, winning many awards including the coveted Gramophone Award for Early Music and the prestigious Classical Brit Award for Renaissance which was recorded as part of the groups contract with Universal Classics and Jazz. In 2009 The Sixteen was given the accolade of the Classic FM Gramophone Artist of the Year as well as Best Baroque Vocal for its recording of Handels Coronation Anthems.
Since 2001 The Sixteen has been building its own record label, CORO, which released its 117th title in autumn 2013. Bringing together live concerts and recording plans has allowed The Sixteen to develop a glittering catalogue of releases, containing music from the Renaissance and Baroque through to great works of our time. Recent releases include Handels Saul and further volumes in both the Palestrina and Monteverdi series. |