The College’s Chamber Choir has recently returned from a triumphant summer tour of Venice. Singing in three concerts across four days, the Choir tackled a mixture of sacred and secular works from the English and Latin traditions, including motets by Renaissance composers des Pres and Arcadelt, and song collections by Britten, Rutter and Tavener.

Singing in venues across the municipality in sweltering summer temperatures, the Chamber Choir performed in some of Europe’s finest venues, including the 10th century Palladio-inspired church of San Stae and the 15th century church of Miracoli, funded by the noble Amati family and star of Orson Well’s 1951 classic adaption of ‘Othello’. Perhaps the highlight however was a 40 minute recital in front of hundreds of pilgrims, tourists and worshippers at Venice’s grand Basilica di San Marco. One of the world’s most iconic Catholic centres and the nexus of European musical life throughout the Renaissance, the Basilica di San Marco proved the ideal setting to allow the College’s talented singers to exploit the world’s finest acoustics through an array of complex Renaissance sacred works. Richly evocative with its sumptuous Byzantine character, the Cathedral is in many ways a workshop where, through the centuries, the great artists of Europe have worked. As the voices of the College’s Chamber Choir soared up to the magnificent gold-plated dome, resplendent with luminous mosaics, the bustle of the Cathedral came to a temporary halt as people sat, listened and prayed silently.

James and Bridget Harrison, parents of College-leaver Anna Harrison, were in Venice at the time and attended the Chamber Choir’s concerts. “The standard of singing was excellent throughout, despite the weather conditions, which must have made it really difficult for all of you”, they said. “The final concert, in Sta Maria dei Miracoli, was especially impressive given the heat and humidity. You all managed to retain the energy and brio right to the end. It really was a great experience.”

Curriculum Manager Harry White said, “This wonderful tour has come off the back of an incredibly busy year and a demanding examination season for all the students. For both our former students who have recently left and those continuing into their second year it was a unique opportunity to perform at some of the world’s finest choral venues in a city of breath-taking beauty. Providing opportunities for our students to develop in ways and settings beyond that which they thought possible before joining College has always been at the heart of our raison d’être. The standard of singing was magnificent and the local audience were simply overwhelmed. It was moving to see so many come up and congratulate the singers afterwards, and the standing ovations that the choir received were thoroughly deserved.”