Contemporary sacred choral music has been central to the repertoire of Vasari Singers throughout its existence, and to mark its 40th anniversary it has selected a sequence of anthems, mostly with star-based themes, the vast majority of which are by living composers. The rich variety to be heard reflects the choir’s commitment to the genre, whether in the ecstasy of Ēriks Ešenvalds, the serenity of Jonathan Dove, the shimmering harmonies of Eric Whitacre, or the ethereal beauties of Paul Mealor.

The performance of contemporary choral music has been central to the Vasari Singers’ existence, flowing through its veins like lifeblood. So, when it came to settling on an idea for a 40th Anniversary recording, the choice of a collection of anthems by (mostly) living composers was a natural and obvious one.

According to founder and conductor Jeremy Backhouse: ‘We are proud of what we have achieved over 40 years, for the contribution we have made to the choral repertoire through our many commissions and our unwavering dedication to the promotion and performance of contemporary music. We sincerely hope this recording reflects that commitment.’

The Vasari Singers’ first Naxos album, Great British Anthems on 8572504, received the Gramophone ‘Recommends’ award with the magazine commenting: ‘their timbre is always fresh and bright, and apt for this music.’ Their world premiere recording of Gabriel Jackson’s Requiem (8573049) was performed with ‘gorgeous tone that rejoices in the rich harmonies and fluid part-writing’ according to Choir & Organ.

Under the direction of its founder conductor Jeremy Backhouse, Vasari Singers performs a wide range of repertoire from Renaissance to contemporary. The choir’s extensive discography includes a large collection of premiere recordings, many of which are of works commissioned by Vasari Singers, as well as two collections of Christmas music. Many of the choir’s recordings have received high acclaim, achieving chart successes and similar recommendations.