The Purcell Singers - When David Heard (2019)

“When David Heard” is a spiritual journey through some of the greatest British and American choral masterpieces of the 20th century. The Purcell Singers, one of London’s leading chamber choirs, perform Barber’s majestic "Agnus Dei", a choral arrangement of his "Adagio for Strings", Howells’ moving "Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing", written to commemorate the death of John F Kennedy, Britten’s spectacular "Five Flower Songs", which vividly paint floral pictures through his imaginative writing, and Whitacre’s stunning "When David Heard", a profoundly emotional setting of a biblical text from the Second Book of Samuel. From the gentle plaintiveness of Elgar, through the radiant beauty of Lauridsen, to the heart-stopping climax of Whitacre, this is a selection of music that will charm and inspire. The Purcell Singers, formed in 1994, are delighted to present this album in celebration of their 25th anniversary to share some of the best-loved works from the UK and the USA drawn from their many performances over the last quarter of a century.