Cappella Nova

Cappella Nova

soprano: Francis Cooper, Libby Crabtree, Micaela Haslam*, Rebecca Tavener*
mezzo soprano: Heather Cairncross, Anne Lewis
countertenor: Alexander L'Estrange*, Richard Wyn Roberts*
tenor: Malcolm Bennett, Clifford Lister, Graham Neal*, Tom Phillips*
baritone: Paul Charrier*, Greg Skidmore
bass: Edward Caswell*, John Milne
trumpet: Mark O'Keeffe

*the eight soloists in Tenebrae Responsories

Cappella Nova, founded in 1982 by Alan Tavener and Rebecca Tavener, has an unrivalled reputation as champions of Scotland's unique treasury of early vocal music. The group is also "famous for its performances of contemporary music" (The Guardian), having commissioned and premiered more than 60 new works since 1986. These include John Tavener's monumental three-hour oratorio, Resurrection (1990), broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and James MacMillan's cantata for Holy Week, Seven Last Words from the Cross (1994), which was the subject of seven short films for BBC2 TV. In 1996 they recorded the award-winning soundtrack by William Sweeney for the Tartan Short film an iobairst. In 2003 they provided ensemble vocals for the critically-acclaimed album Hate by The Delgados. Future premieres include new works by Sir John Tavener and Craig Armstrong.

Cappella Nova and its medieval offshoot ensemble, Canty, has made 14 CDs, including ten of medieval and renaissance music for the Sanctuary Classics (ASV) Gaudeamus label, all of which are ‘world premieres in modern times', and the group is particularly well-known for championing the music of the 16th century Scottish polyphonist, Robert Carver. The Company receives funding from the Scottish Arts Council to promote a concert season across Scotland as well as a popular outreach programme. Besides appearances in many British festivals, the group has toured many times abroad, including several visits to Germany and France, and tours in Ireland, Belgium, Hungary, Russia and the USA. Among Cappella Nova's awards are several Enterprise Awards from the Performing Rights Society and a Glenfiddich Living Scotland Award for their ground-breaking performances of Scottish early music.

On St Andrew's Day 1998 the group premiered a specially commissioned work by William Sweeney in the presence of HM The Queen at the opening of the National Museum of Scotland. The group has shared the platform with a wide range of groups and artists including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Evelyn Glennie, John Sessions, The Scottish Brass Ensemble, St Petersburg Baroque Brass, Tom Fleming, Concerto Caledonia, Sheena Wellington, Sister Sledge, Theatre Cryptic and The Scottish Ensemble. Cappella Nova is currently Vocal Ensemble in Residence at the University of Strathclyde.