For Immediate Release
‘Voices of spun gold’ help to ring in the holidays at Walton Arts Center
Northwest Arkansas (November 18, 2010) – Grammy® Award-winning a cappella group The Kings’ Singers come to Walton Arts Center to perform “Joy to the World,” a concert featuring classical holiday readings and arrangements, on Friday, December 10 at 8pm. This beautiful holiday program takes the audience from medieval treasures to 20th century favorites, including “The Angel Gabriel,” “What Child Is This,” “Stille Nacht,” “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and many more. Tickets range from $25 to $45 and can be purchased by calling the Walton Arts Center Box Office at 479.443.5600 or by visiting waltonartscenter.org.
“Unmatched for their musicality and sheer ability to entertain” according to The London Times, The King’s Singers have put forth the highest caliber of a cappella performance since the group’s inception at King’s College, Cambridge, in 1968. Over the years, The King’s Singers have built up a great variety of music for Christmas, mirroring the eclecticism of the ensemble’s general repertoire, both in terms of international scope and in terms of spanning the range of musical history. The King’s Signers’ roots lie deeply in the English choral tradition of the great cathedrals and college chapels, a tradition perhaps most strongly associated in the minds of the public with the Holiday season – “Joy to the World” consists of familiar music and readings that reflect the atmosphere of this season.
The King’s Singers have a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, media and education work that spans the globe. Championing the work of young and established composers, they remain consummate entertainers; a class-act with a delightfully British wit. Called “voices of spun gold” by BBC Music, The King’s Singers are instantly recognizable for their spot-on intonation, their impeccable vocal blend, the flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing.
The King’s Singers are comprised of some of the world’s most celebrated vocalists, including David Hurley (countertenor), Timothy Wayne-Wright (countertenor), Paul Phoenix (tenor), Philip Lawson (baritone), Christopher Gabbitas (baritone) and Jonathan Howard (bass). During 2010-2011, this all-British vocal ensemble will perform across the world in some of the world’s most beautiful concert halls including the National Centre for the Performing Arts (Beijing), Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (Kuala Lumpur), and the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall. The King’s Singers will travel to Finland, Poland, the US and Canada, Estonia, Italy, Germany, Sweden, France, Bulgaria, Denmark, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands and will be featured at the prestigious Schleswig Holstein Music Festival in July 2011.
With a discography of well over 150 recordings, The King’s Singers have garnered both awards and significant critical acclaim. Their recent studio album Simple Gifts on Signum was awarded a Grammy® in 2009. An EP titled From the Heart was released internationally in February 2010, and was linked to a collaborative concert and webcast with ClassicsOnline for Valentine’s Day. On the same date the group appeared on BBC television’s Songs of Praise singing tracks from the disc. Swimming over London, a disc that aligns the group ‘favourites’ with new songs and arrangements was released in June 2010. March 2010 saw the release of a world premiere recording of music for Vespers by Pachelbel with Charivari Agréable. While touring the USA in February 2010, The King’s Singers recorded an album with renowned Concordia College Choir including commissions by Eric Whitacre and Bob Chilcott. For more information about The King’s Singers, visit www.kingssingers.com.
The King’s Singers is part of the Masterworks Series with media support from NWA Media. For more information about this performance or others, contact the Walton Arts Center Box Office by calling 479.443.5600 or by visiting waltonartscenter.org.
Walton Arts Center is Arkansas’ premier center for the performing arts and entertainment. Each year more than 140,000 people from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma and beyond attend over 350 public events at Walton Arts Center, including performances, rehearsals, community gatherings, receptions, graduations and more. Approximately 20,000 students and teachers from 30 school districts participate annually in arts learning programs at Walton Arts Center, and over 300 volunteers donate more than 15,000 hours of time each year to its operations. Walton Arts Center presents entertainers and artists from around the world including Broadway musicals, renowned dance companies, international artists, up-and-coming jazz musicians and more. As a non-profit organization, Walton Arts Center enjoys the generous support of public sector funding, corporate sponsorship and private donors, allowing audience members to pay on average only 50% of the cost of programs offered. To learn more about Walton Arts Center, visit www.waltonartscenter.org.
