Tenebrae: Russian Treasures, St James’s Catholic Church

This is an in-the-know gem of a concert and by no means a regular choral performance. Tenenbrae are a British professional vocal ensemble with a twist. 

British founder Nigel Short is also the group’s Artistic Director and conductor. It was whilst on tour with the internationally renowned King’s Singers in the early 1990s that he dreamt up the idea. He wanted to form a larger group that would be not just about sound, but also incorporate visual images, movements and lighting effects in a beautiful setting. 

This performance is set to be a visual feast complemented by the church’s stunning acoustics. You will be immersed in the sounds of the liturgy from the Eastern Orthodox churches dating from the sixteenth century right the way through to the early twentieth century. There will be works by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff as well as lesser-known composers, some of whose music hasn’t ever been heard outside Russia. This is an exclusive insight into music from another country and a real one off chance to be immersed in relatively undiscovered classical music.

Tenebrae’s motto is ‘Passion and Precision’. They pride themselves on their high standards and rightly so: Gramophone Magazine describes their performances as “devastatingly beautiful”. Their mission is to enable audiences to experience the full power and intimacy of the human voice.

This is a real in-the-know concert and one of those events to experience with friends. It’s the only Russian Treasures concert in their programme and therefore a one-off event.

Tickets: £40, £25, £15

Address and map:  Spanish Place, 22 George St, W1U 3QY  ‎

Nearest Tube: Bond Street, Baker Street