Excellent Christmas concert this evening.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I've attended many holiday concerts over the years, but tonight's was perhaps the best ever. It featured Chanticleer, a dozen male singers with voices ranging from basses to sopranos (the three sopranos may have been castrati, but I'm told that's not the case; I'll take their word for it). The concert was as Mission Santa Clara where the acoustics were superb. I've never heard voices blend better than what I heard tonight.

Here's an inadequate sample:

[YOUTUBE]nBxv-osui7E&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

[OhioBlue]

I can't watch the youtube clip since BYU has denied access to youtube, but I'll try to catch it at home later. Chanticleer from my perspective is one of the best singing groups out there, i've been very impressed by their recordings so I imagine live in a good acoustic location they are stellar.

[UtahDan]

I can't watch the youtube clip since BYU has denied access to youtube, but I'll try to catch it at home later. Chanticleer from my perspective is one of the best singing groups out there, i've been very impressed by their recordings so I imagine live in a good acoustic location they are stellar.

How do they compare to the King's Singers?

[OhioBlue]

How do they compare to the King's Singers?

Favorably. Bigger group, but good sound across the spectrum. Tight. Of course I'm no Chanticleer expert and am just basing this on what I've heard and know of them. But they are as good as anything I've heard in that genre. I've only have 2 or 3 King's Singers albums though so take the comparison with a grain of salt.

[PaloAltoCougar]

We attended another Chanticleer Christmas concert last night, this one at Stanford's Memorial Church and it was again pretty much perfect. They performed this arrangement of Ave Maria, but the youtube video doesn't do it justice. Portions of the concert will be rebroadcast over NPR between now and Christmas. I've never heard a better men's chorus.

[YOUTUBE]XVyCJlPiHFg[/YOUTUBE]

And here's a quick number they put together last year for Jay Leno.
[YOUTUBE]glRVCl14sbU&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

[PaloAltoCougar]

This is apparently a biannual event for us, as we attended the Chanticleer Christmas Concert in Livermore this evening, and it was superb. Our hosts got us perfect seats (row 5 center, at eye level with the performers) and the group was in outstanding form. It's the first time in memory I rose to my feet spontaneously, rather than following suit with the rest of an audience. The vocal control, blending and dynamics are otherworldly. What a great night.

[clackamascoug]

I love your culture reports. I just listened to an hour of Chanticleer on youtube, and enjoyed it all. If I had to guess, there are a couple of eunuchs in the group. Talk about taking one for the team.

[OrangeUte]

I've caught chanticleer twice down in the Bay Area and have always wanted to attend their Xmas concert. Their Xmas CDs dominate my holiday playlist. Great traction pac.

[creekster]

On Saturday we are going to the American Bach Soloists performance of the Messiah at Grace Cathedral with a period instrument orchestra. I am looking forward to it. I will return and report.

http://www.americanbach.org/seasons/12-13/Messiah_youtube.htm