“… the voices of the Yale Schola Cantorum make strong contributions throughout with their bright, youthful, and beautifully balanced sound. The hand of that choral magician, Simon Carrington, is in evidence here ..." - Craig Zeichner, for Early Music America

Such glowing testimonials as this are typical of critical acclaim for the Yale Schola Cantorum (YSC). In keeping with the choir’s main areas of specialty (music before 1750 and of the past hundred years), 'Anniversaries and Messages' offers a diverse program of mostly ancient and modern selections: a setting of the Latin Mass by Victoria and a Bach motet, plus works by leading contemporary composers Christopher Theofanidis and David Lang. We are further treated to a lovely Ave Maria setting by Franz Liszt.

The YSC is an exceptionally accomplished academic ensemble founded in 2003 by “choral magician” Simon Carrington, who brought the choir to prominence during his Yale tenure as Professor of Choral conducting. His pioneering work there attracted the attention of Japanese early music master Masaaki Suzuki, who has been the choir’s director since 2009. Carrington continues to work intermittently with the choir as a Yale Professor Emeritus.

In this splendid live concert recording, the ensemble lives up to its exalted reputation in every respect, engaging their fortunate listeners with gripping spontaneity, sweet sound, uncanny balance, and unblemished technical perfection.