Ikon Arts Blog

Swingles to perform at International Bogazici Festival

2008-09-02T17:00:00.004+01:00

The Swingle Singers make a long-awaited return to Istanbul to perform at the International Bogazici Festival, as part of the run-up to the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture celebrations. The concert, on 7th September at 9.30pm, will be held at St Irene Church near the Topkapi Palace.

Click here to find out more.

Super Swingles live on Superquark!

2008-07-05T12:00:00.001+01:00

International a cappella sensation the Swingle Singers performed live on Italian TV earlier this month, to promote their new album 'Beauty and the Beatbox' and to relive some of the great moments in the group's fascinating 40-year old history.

For over 40 years the Swingle Singers have provided the title melody for one of Italy's longest-running television programmes, 'Superquark'. Back in 1966, prolific journalist and well-loved TV presenter Piero Angela heard the Swingle rendition of J.S. Bach's "Air on the G String" for the first time. He chose it as the opening theme of his popular educational programme, 'Superquark', and 3000 instalments later the theme has never changed. Recently the Swingle Singers were invited to Angela's studio to explain the success of the group's 45-year career, and to promote their latest CD "Beauty and the Beatbox". The official Italian launch will take place on September 30th in Milan at Italy's most important music venue, La Scala.

Click here to watch the show!

Next Swingle Singers concert

2008-05-20T12:38:00.001+01:00

Catch the next Swingle Singers' performance in the UK at Leeds Castle, on Friday 25th July, at 8pm.

Visit the group's website here for more info.

Swingles make Vienna Philharmonic debut

2008-03-28T12:11:00.003Z

The Swingle Singers are making their début with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra this weekend, in 3 performances of Berio's Sinfonia. Under the baton of maestro Zubin Mehta, the group will perform this fantastic piece which was written specifically for them by Berio in the 1960's. Visit www.swinglesingers.com for more details.

The Wallfisch Band at Lufthansa Festival

2008-03-20T20:07:00.001Z

Be one of the first to hear The Wallfisch Band in their debut performance at the Lufthansa Festival in May. Visit the festival website for more details: www.lufthansafestival.org.uk

Interesting Christmas concert

2007-11-06T17:26:00.001Z

Ikon Arts will be going to hear Chandos Chamber Choir perform their Christmas Concert at All Saints Church, Margaret Street, on Thursday 13th December. Interesting works by Will Todd (Christus est stella), Forrest Pierce (The Old Ground) and old favourites by Byrd, Victoria, Leighton, Rodney Bennett, & Walton.

Time Out recommends Swingles' concert this week

2007-09-24T11:57:00.000+01:00

Time Out London has made Wednesday's CD launch concert for 'Beauty and the Beatbox' one if its recommended events. Read the listing here.

Swingles' new CD is 'a little gem' - says Classic FM Magazine

2007-09-02T15:23:00.000+01:00

Classic FM Magazine has given the Swingle Singers' new CD a big thumbs up in this month's edition. Warwick Thompson, reviewing, gave 'Beauty and the Beatbox' a positive 4 stars, and wrote '...their precision is awesome, their technique impeccable...a little gem'. Click on the image to read the full review.

Farewell to Kineret...Swingle alto extraordinaire

2007-08-24T11:21:00.000+01:00

Swingles past and present gathered in Islington on Thursday evening to bid a fond and very sad farewell to Kineret Erez, who left the group in July. After practicing their salsa dancing the group gave a localised premiere of Kineret's fabulous new vocal arrangement of 'Libertango' (Piazzolla), which features in the Swingle Singers' new programme 'Beauty and the Beatbox' from September. Later into the evening the group posed for a photo, joined by Holly and Costa. Beautiful. We'll miss you Kineret!

Classic FM recommends upcoming Swingles concert

2007-08-22T16:26:00.000+01:00

Classic FM Magazine has listed the Swingle Singers' forthcoming CD launch concert of Beauty and the Beatbox as 'Best A Cappella' in their September listings. The concert, on 26th September at the Bloomsbury Theatre, will feature special guest artists featured on the CD, as well as being a celebration of Ward Swingle's 80th birthday the week before. Click here to see the listing.ClassicFMListing.jpg. Also featured in the magazine is an interview with Ward Swingle, on his musical heroes - ranging from Bach to Mozart, Berio to Edith Piaf, Ward's history of how he formed the Swingle Singers is a fascinating read - read it here.ClassicFMHeroes_low.jpg

Swingle Singers' new CD gets 4 stars from Evening Standard

2007-08-13T11:52:00.000+01:00

The new Swingle Singers' album has got an early review from the Evening Standard on 9th August. Norman Lebrecht gives an impressive 4 stars to 'Beauty and the Beatbox', due for release in early September. "The Swingle Singers are back", the reviewer triumphantly announces: "...a brand new line-up and mouthy beatboxer to boot...the whole sounds edgy and almost cool". We like it! Read the full review here. BatB.jpg

The Sixteen at Mostly Mozart

2007-08-12T12:06:00.000+01:00

The Sixteen and its orchestra, the Symphony of Harmony and Invention, brought the 2007 Mostly Mozart festival to "an immaculate finale" on 4th August, with a performance including extracts of Mozart's Mitridate, Vivaldi's Gloria, and "a memorable performance" of Mozart's Requiem (The Observer, 12th August 2007).

Stile Antico in Times' Top Classical list

2007-08-11T17:56:00.000+01:00

Music critic Richard Morrison recommended Stile Antico's concert in Cambridge at the weekend in his Top 5 Classical concerts in The Times' weekend guide. Click here to see the listing.

Stile Antico twins on Women's Hour

2007-08-08T15:38:00.000+01:00

Stile Antico's Ashby twins Kate and Helen will be appearing on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour on Monday 13th August, where they will be talking about life as twins, and the group's involvement with Dartington Summer School. Extracts from Stile Antico's critically-acclaimed CD Music For Compline will also be featured on the programme. Click herev for the show's website to listen again.

Beauty 'v' Beatbox

2007-07-12T13:00:00.000+01:00

News on the swingle-vine says the group's new CD (released on 3rd September) will be a big hit. 'Beauty and the Beatbox' takes the Swingle Singers in a new, hip(hop) direction and features vocal percussion/beatboxing on every track. Click herefor info/tickets on the official launch concert of the CD in London, later in September...

Swingle Singers huge hit in Cork

2007-05-21T17:08:00.000+01:00

The Swingle Singers opened this year's Cork International Choral Festival to rave reviews and high-profile fans. Their Sonata to Salsa concert on 2nd May was given 5 stars by the Irish Examiner, who claimed their performance was "surely one of the most memorable concerts ever presented at the festival". The group also delighted their packed Irish audience by performing traditional songs Ireland's Call and Fields of Athenry as encores.

Also enjoying the Swingles' performance was the British Ambassador to Ireland, Mr David Reddaway, who gave his full support to the group.

Stile Antico to perform at Classical Brit Awards

2007-04-23T16:38:00.000+01:00

After their hugely successful European tour, Stile Antico joins Sting again to perform at the 2007 Classical Brit Awards ceremony, on 3rd May at the Royal Albert Hall. Their performance can be seen on ITV1 on 13th May, at 11pm. More details on the Classical Brits website.

Choral Pilgrimage 2007 kicks off in Cambridge

2007-03-21T13:21:00.000Z

The Sixteen's Choral Pilgrimage 2007 kicked off to a good start in St John's Chapel, Cambridge, on 15th March. This annual tour of the UK's finest cathedrals, churches and concert halls will take The Sixteen and Harry Christophers to 22 venues, from Greenwich to Tewksbury, Winchester, Wells, Liverpool, Durham, Salibury, York and Edinburgh. Click here for more details.

Swingle Singers at BBC Proms this summer

2007-03-20T12:47:00.000Z

NEWSFLASH! The Swingle Singers have just been confirmed for a performance of Berio's Sinfonia with the world-renowned Accadamia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, with Antonio Pappano, at the BBC Proms on 16th July 2007. Watch this space for more details and how to buy tickets.

Swingles beatboxing Bach

2007-03-19T12:53:00.000Z

The Swingle Singers performed to a hugely enthusiastic audience at the Human Beatbox Convention at London's Southbank Centre, as part of the Ether Festival. This unique performance was led by beatbox wizard Shlomo, asnd is the second exciting collaboration between the two artists (the first being at the London Jazz Festival in November 2006). They will also be performing together at the Big Chill and Glastonbury this summer.

Rave Reviews from Rio

2006-11-01T15:49:00.000Z

The Swingle Singers' concert in Rio last week was a huge success - in the first performance in Brazil in over 4 years the audience was ready for the Swingles' exciting new show...and bought every last one of the group's CDs! Thanks to an immediate re-invitation for a full tour of the country next year, the Swingles are set to return with more of their great new Latin-jazz arrangements!

TONUS PEREGRINUS confirmed for English Music Festival

2006-08-18T15:42:00.000+01:00

We are pleased to confirm TONUS PEREGRINUS' next UK concert will be at 14.30 on Saturday 21st October, at Sutton Courtenay Church in Oxfordshire, as part of the English Music Festival. The programme will be based on repertoire from the Eton Choirbook, England's first 'hymnbook'. Tickets are on sale now so book early!

Swingle Singers tour of Brazil confirmed

2006-08-16T14:31:00.001+01:00

The swingle singers first-ever tour of Brazil has just been confirmed. The 2-date tour in October 2006 sees performances in Rio and Aracaju. Check out the swingle singers' website for more details! www.swinglesingers.com

TONUS PEREGRINUS new Podcast

2006-08-03T14:44:00.000+01:00

TONUS PEREGRINUS are leading the way in new music on the web, and have just made available for download their first-ever podcast on the subject of its new CD release, Hymns and Songs of the Church. Also streaming on the website is a video of a live TV performance of 'There is a Green Hill', one of the tracks featured on the new Gibbons disc. Visit tonusperegrinus for all the latest news.