Sacred polyphony from Palestrina and a William Byrd motet on one end; Bobby McFerrin and Simon & Garfunkel on the other. VOCES8’s “Let’s Fly Away” program treats this apparent contradiction as the whole argument: eight trained voices, placed in careful relation to one another, moving between five centuries of music without losing the thread.
About the Show
VOCES8 is a British vocal ensemble founded in 2005 by brothers Barnaby Smith and Paul Smith, former choristers of St. Paul’s Cathedral School and Westminster Abbey. In the two decades since, the group has become what multiple critics and presenters call “the world’s top-streaming classical vocal group,” earning a Grammy nomination (2023, for “The Lost Birds” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), a 2026 Opus Klassik award, and a touring schedule of more than 120 concerts annually across 20 countries. The ensemble’s versatility extends to collaborations with orchestras and artists including Paul Simon, Jacob Collier, and Eric Whitacre. Their most recent album, “TWENTY,” marks their 20th anniversary.
The critical vocabulary around VOCES8 is unusually consistent for an ensemble working across so many styles. Gramophone finds their singing “impeccable in its quality of tone and balance.” BBC Music Magazine reaches for “gorgeous sound, impeccable ensemble, and intense responsiveness to text.” The Arts Desk settles on “the Rolls-Royce of British a cappella ensembles.” Three publications that rarely agree on anything.
“Let’s Fly Away” takes its title from the exuberant invitation of “Come Fly with Me” and moves, without apology, through five centuries: sacred polyphony from William Byrd, Palestrina, and Bruckner; the searching contemporary lyricism of Arvo Pärt, Caroline Shaw, and Paul Smith; the timeless sophistication of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart; and the warmth of Ben Folds, Bobby McFerrin, and Simon & Garfunkel. The presenter describes the pieces as “joyful, reflective, intimate and exuberant in turn.” That covers the range.
Venue & Logistics
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington sits at the edge of the Hudson Valley and has built its season around classical and choral music at a level that makes the drive from across the region worthwhile. At 681 seats, the house is the right scale for this program — close enough that the ensemble’s blend registers as a physical presence. VOCES8 performs Friday, October 9, at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets are $39 Reserved, $49 Preferred, and $69 Premium, plus processing fees. Members save $5 per ticket. Youth pricing of $15 is available for ages 30 and under through the box office at 413-528-0100. Buy tickets