The Song Company
"Song Company gave a performance of exquisite balance, tonal quality and expression.
Such was the atmosphere and marvellous music-making of this group, the hushed audience barely dared even to breathe."
The Song Company
From its beginnings, in 1984 The Song Company’s schedule has grown to include a mix of national and international touring, a subscription series in cities across Australia, recording and broadcast projects, education activities, and special collaborative projects.
The Song Company’s repertoire covers vocal music from the 10th century to contemporary works and is unique in its stylistic diversity. The Company remains at the forefront of contemporary vocal music through an extensive commissioning program and collaborations with artists and composers of the highest calibre from around the world. A longstanding commitment to education sees the ensemble perform regularly in schools throughout the country, including bringing music workshops to children in regional and remote areas.
The Song Company has built an enviable reputation as a vocal group of unmatched scope and expertise. While its point of reference lies in the vocal consort repertoire of the 16th and early 17th century, frequent explorations in medieval music, and ongoing creative development with composers and artists here and abroad continue to expand the group’s repertoire and skill base.
Since 1997, the group has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues and has been hosted by major festivals in Europe, including the Flanders Festival, Utrecht Early Music Festival, and the Budapest Music Festival, and is equally at home singing in Nullagyne, Trangy or Barradine.
The group’s 10th anniversary was celebrated together with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in a performance of Bach, Fauré and a new work by Elliott Gyger. The 20th anniversary was marked with a large new setting of Song of Songs by Andrew Schultz which saw the start of an ongoing collaboration with William Barton, one of Australia’s most celebrated indigenous artists. This year, the 30th anniversary season started with a performance of Berio’s Laborintus II at the Sydney Festival, will feature the premiere of a new Mass for Voices and Didgeridoo by Gerald Brophy, and will conclude with a rare soloistic performance of J.S.Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
Thirty years on, The Song Company can be seen as a pioneer in a cappella singing in Australia. No other vocal ensemble in the country matches the quality of The Song Company’s ensemble or the diversity of its repertoire.