Revered by critics and audiences as Britain's finest chamber choir, Tenebrae makes a rare visit to the US for a three city tour November 4-6, 2011. Founded and directed by former King's Singer and choral expert Nigel Short, the twenty voice choir blends the passion of a large cathedral choir with the precision of a chamber ensemble to create a unique and enchanting sound, one which is as effective in medieval chant as in contemporary works. With an impressive discography of fifteen critically acclaimed recordings, Tenebrae recently completed its first recording project for Decca Classics. The CD is slated for release November 7th in the UK and early 2012 in the U.S. and features the music of composer Paul Mealor, whose moving Ubi Caritas was performed at the recent royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Click for an exclusive audio clip of Mealor's arrangement of Now sleeps the crimson petal, recorded for Decca

The first concert of Tenebrae's tour, 8pm on November 4 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, as well as the 8pm, November 5 performance at James Madison University's newly opened Forbes Center, features works by Vaughan Williams, Holst, Tavener, Parry and Joby Talbot as well as Paul Mealor's sublime Ubi Caritas. Mealor, the renowned British composer, praised the choir following their recent collaboration: ''Tenebrae is one of the world's finest chamber choirs. Working with them and their fabulous conductor, Nigel Short on my new album, 'A Tender Light' for Decca Records has been a dream experience! Every second of their consummate professionalism and delicacy of sound, matched with flawless intonation and innate musical shaping, takes me deeper into the very purest, most spiritual place.''

The final concert of the tour, at 8pm on November 6 at St. Mary the Virgin (Smokey Mary's) in New York's Times Square, brings the US Premiere of Mealor's Now sleeps the crimson petal. A delicately transcendent setting of Lord Tennyson's poem of the same name, Now sleeps the crimson petal opens from soft unison into a spectrum of warm sonorities exploring the intimacy of the work.

TOUR SCHEDULE & PROGRAMS

Friday, November 4, 2011 at 8pm
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia, PA

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Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 8pm
The Forbes Center, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia

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Program
Gustav Holst - The Evening Watch
John Tavener - Funeral Ikos
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Rest
Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Turtle Dove
Richard Rodney Bennett - A Good-Night
Hubert Parry - At the round earth's imagin'd corners (from Songs of Farewell)
Hubert Parry - Lord, let me know mine end (from Songs of Farewell)
Intermission
Paul Mealor - Ubi Caritas
Joby Talbot - Leon (from Path of Miracles)
Joby Talbot - Santiago (from Path of Miracles)

Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 8pm
Smokey Mary's, NYC (St Mary the Virgin, Times Square)

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Program
Gustav Holst - The Evening Watch
John Tavener - Funeral Ikos
Ralph Vaughan Williams - Rest
Ralph Vaughan Williams - The Turtle Dove
Richard Rodney Bennett - A Good-Night
Hubert Parry - At the round earth's imagin'd corners (from Songs of Farewell)
Hubert Parry - Lord, let me know mine end (from Songs of Farewell)
Intermission
Paul Mealor - Now sleeps the crimson petal (US premiere)
Joby Talbot - Leon (from Path of Miracles)
Joby Talbot - Santiago (from Path of Miracles)

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For further publicity information and interview requests please contact:

Kirshbaum Demler & Assoc.
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