The Elysian Singers

The Elysian Singers of London is one of the UK’s leading chamber choirs. Known for its adventurous programming, the choir performs in and around London and has recorded many widely acclaimed CDs. Founded in 1986 by Matthew Greenall, the group quickly developed an interest in contemporary music, giving world premières by composers including John Tavener who, from 2002 until his death, was the choir’s Patron. Sam Laughton became Musical Director in 2000. Recent world premières include Danyal Dhondy’s Still the Sirens (commissioned by Making Music), Sir John Tavener’s Monument to Beethoven at the Royal Festival Hall (2014), John Habron’s Salve Regina (2008), and Exile Lamentations (2009) a commission by Paul Stanhope. The choir regularly performs Baroque, Romantic and 20th Century masterpieces at venues such as St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. John’s Smith Square, and participates in festivals across the country. Their first CD of music by James MacMillan, Cantos Sagrados, received a 5-star rating from BBC Music Magazine. Reviewing ‘Songs of the Isles’, the choir’s 2009 Bantock release, the same publication spoke of the Elysians’ ‘young, fresh-toned voices, brightly attentive to text’. TV and radio highlights include the first broadcast performances of Henryk Górecki’s Miserere and Three Lullabies on Radio 3, appearances with Lesley Garrett, and the finals of the Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year competition. Sir James MacMillan is the choir’s patron.