Past Events

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2024 in review

Manila Galleon: International Trade and Musical Globalisation

16 & 17 March, The Theatre Practice

15 June, St Mary's Church, Ayer Salak, Melaka

​​​​For two and a half centuries, between 1564 and 1815, the Manila galleons brought luxury goods such as spices and porcelains to America in exchange for silver, fostering cultural exchanges that shaped the identities and cultures of South-East Asia, Spain, and the Spanish Americas. Along this global trade route, people and music flowed freely, making for some surprising influences and results. We present a selection of music that would have been heard at places along this journey from Madrid to Manila to Mexico.

English Choral Masterpieces

3 August, St George's Church, Penang

Performing for the first time in Penang, Singapore’s longest-running Early Music group Cappella Martialis present a programme inspired by the British link between Singapore and Penang. Our overview of the English choral tradition spans some 700 years, from the monastic austerity of the 14th century to the ethereal 21st century harmonies. 

Voices of Singapore Festival 2024 Closing Gala

5 September, CHIJMES Hall

Reprising Sheppard’s glorious 15th century polyphonic work Media Vita, as part of the closing gala of the annual choral festival organised by VOS together with the diverse music of the other performing choirs.

Hodie Christus natus est: Christmas from the Sistine Chapel

30 Nov & 1 Dec, Jubilee Church and Queenstown Lutheran Church

Among the cultural centres of Renaissance Europe, one of the most prestigious, if not the most prestigious, was Rome, and the Sistine Chapel Choir (Cappella Sistina) reigned supreme in that city. Being the choir of the pope’s private chapel, it attracted the best singers and renowned composers from all over Europe, but what was the repertoire sung by the choir in the 1500s at its height of influence? Cappella Martialis has put together music for the Advent & Christmas season by composers who were singers in the choir as well as works we know were sung by the choir. The programme includes Palestrina’s motet Hodie Christus natus est and his mass based on it, Morales’ O magnum mysterium, works by other Sistine Chapel alumni such as Josquin and Festa, as well as 16th c. Italian laude (carols) that would have been popularly sung during this festive season in Counter-Reformation Rome.

Christmas Carolling 

This year, our carolling locations included Como Hotels and Changi City Point.