The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge has established itself as one of the leading mixed-voice choirs in the UK. The Choir comprises around thirty Choral Scholars (all of whom are ordinarily undergraduates of the College) under Director of Music, Stephen Layton.
The College’s long and distinguished choral tradition dates back to the fourteenth century, when former Chapel Royal choristers studied in King’s Hall, which later became part of Trinity College. The Choir’s main focus during term is the singing of the liturgy in the College Chapel, exploring a wide-ranging repertoire drawn from both Catholic and Protestant traditions.
Outside term the Choir enjoys a programme of high-profile performances and recordings, recently including Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and St Nicolas as part of Aldeburgh’s commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Britten’s death, Poulenc’s Gloria with Britten Sinfonia in Norwich Cathedral, and Howells’ Requiem in Trinity College Chapel. For the last two seasons, the Choir has performed and recorded with the Academy of Ancient Music in London and Cambridge, including Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum and Chandos Anthems.
Recent additions to the Choir’s extensive discography include Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum, Poulenc’s Gloria, and a cappella works by Polish composer Pawel Lukaszewski, all released last year on the Hyperion label. The Dettingen Te Deum was hailed as ‘precise and exuberant … wonderfully expressive … elementally exciting’ by the Daily Telegraph, and the Lukaszewski disc as ‘magical and sophisticated’ by International Record Review. The Poulenc Gloria was nominated for a Gramophone Award and described by Gramophone Magazine as ‘a performance of real distinction’.
An ambitious programme of tours has taken the Choir to destinations including Canada, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Peru, as well as to many European cities, including a recent performance of Vierne’s Messe Solennelle in the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
Forthcoming engagements this year include a concert in the Cheltenham Music Festival, the BBC’s annual broadcast of Choral Evensong from Trinity College Chapel, and a tour of California, including performances in the cathedrals and concert halls of San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles.