About Dunedin Consort
"a vividly dynamic professional vocal ensemble" - The Herald
2006 marks the tenth anniversary of Dunedin Consort, an ensemble that "has done so much to transform the vocal life of Scotland" (The Herald)
The Consort takes its name from Edinburgh's castle (Eidyn's Din) and, like the famous landmark, has great cultural significance in Scotland's capital city.
Based in Edinburgh, the Consort numbers three to sixteen professional singers from across Britain, and the artistic forces for each project are chosen according to repertoire.
Since the group was founded by Susan Hamilton and Ben parry in 1996, Dunedin Consort has performed both in Britain and abroad to critical acclaim, also co-ordinating regular choral workshops and educational activities.
Electric performances, with some deliciously seductive singing and a genuine, sparkling chemistry The Herald
The Consort has performed at music festivals in Scotland, Canada, Italy, Spain and France, and with ensembles including the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia 21, the BT Scottish Ensemble, paragon Ensemble Scotland, Florilegium, La Serenissima and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. It also broadcasts frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Scotland and has appeared on BBC2 and BBC4.
"They sing with clear-textured beauty and a thrilling intensity." HMV Choice
Under the artistic direction of John Butt and Susan Hamilton, the Consort explores music from the Middle Ages to the present day, performing each work in keeping with its historical context.
Immaculate sartorially, vocally, both in music and verbal diction, and presentation a casket of jewels. press and Journal
Recent programmes include a cappella music from the time of James IV, Bach's Mass in B Minor, St John and St Matthew passions, purcell's The Fairy Queen and the Dublin version of Handel's Messiah. The group, though, is perhaps best known for its Renaissance solo-voice ensemble repertoire.
"...Scotland's leading performers of Early Music" Byrd Newsletter
With a special interest in contemporary music, Dunedin Consort has also toured Requiem in Blue in 2004, The peoples Mass, written by six leading Scottish composers, in 2003, performed Stimmung at the 2002 Edinburgh International Festival which was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and Menottis opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, directed by the composer in 2000.
Dunedin Consort notch[es] up world-class performances of challenging choral repertoire ranging from Elizabethan masses, motets and madrigals, to Stockhausens Stimmung" The Scotsman
Dunedin Consorts discography includes music by Copland and Barber on the Linn label, and also recordings of Mozarts Il Seraglio and Idomeneo with Sir Charles Mackerras and the SCO. The Consort has also released a disc of music by William Byrd and his contemporaries in 2003 on the Delphian label, and two recordings of new music, Silhouette and The peoples Mass in 2004. Dunedin Consort plans to record Handel's Messiah in July 2005.
"The silvery toned Dunedin singers [add] spice to fluent perfection" The Scotsman