England’s CLASSICAL-MUSIC.com released in late October its list of the ten best choirs in the world. That’s right, the world. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is one of them. The choirs range dramatically in size, nationality, and longevity. What they have in common is they are uncommonly good. According to CLASSICAL-MUSIC.com, they are the best.
CLASSICAL-MUSIC.com is the official website of internationally known BBC Music Magazine . It is not unusual for the BBC Music Magazine and its companion website to make such pronouncements. However, this is the first time for the publication of a list of the ten best choirs. Those selected were presented alphabetically. All of them perform regularly, tour, and record their music.
Features in the BBC Music Magazine and CLASSICAL-MUSIC.com have also named the World’s Top 10 Orchestras, the 20 Greatest Symphonies, the 20 Greatest Conductors of All Time, the 50 Greatest Composers of All Time and the 50 Greatest Recordings of All Time.
In describing The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in its Top 10 Choirs list, the website noted:
Choirs come in all shapes and sizes, and at around 360-strong The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is one of the largest. It is also one of the most famous. Formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, it was founded in Salt Lake City in 1847 and has become a cornerstone of US choral tradition, performing at several U.S. presidential inaugurations including those of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.
Other choirs included in the top ten with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square: (listed alphabetically):
Escolania de Montserrat, Barcelona, Spain, is an all-boys choir about 50 in number which traces its roots to the 1200s and sings for services at the Abbey of Montserrat.
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir founded in 1981 has a tradition of fine choral music and a repertoire of Estonian composers.
Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, England is known to audiences for its Christmas broadcasts on BBC. The choir traces back to 1441.
Mississippi Mass Choir, one of the two American choirs on the list, is known for its preeminent gospel music, has won countless awards, and has toured widely.
St Paul’s Cathedral Choir, England sprang from a ramshackle outfit in the 1870s to one of England’s preeminent choirs performing at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in 1981.
The Sixteen, England, began with 16 singers in 1977 but numbers now vary. They are known for their mastery of Renaissance repertoire.
Tallis Scholars, England, founded in 1973 by Peter Phillips, focuses on study and performance of a Renaissance repertoire.
Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, England has a reputation for an immaculate choral blend in a repertoire ranging from Handel to Howells.
Vox Luminis began in the Belgian town of Namur in 2004 with performances of music from the 16th, 17th, and early 18th century.
See the full story on top 10 choirs on CLASSICAL-MUSIC.com here .