The First
LIVE From London
Summer 2020
An online festival of the world’s finest vocal music
Set in VOCES8’s stunning church in the heart of the city.
As the sun set on LIVE From London Summer 2020 , we wanted to share how its felt for us and our festival artists to have your support at that time. Thank you never seemed to be enough, but it meant the world to us.
“LIVE From London was designed with a very simple goal - to bring artists together in a collaboration that would share great music and a positive message of hope around the world in this most difficult of years. The global response from our audience has been a genuine joy to see. All of us at the VOCES8 Foundation are passionate about our work, and we have been so thrilled to share the stage with such fabulous artists from the UK and internationally who were driven by the same goals and willingness to share in the risks and challenges of creating this new festival.
We have been honoured to help build a platform for artists to be able to perform and for audiences to enjoy world class concerts in their living rooms, and we are excited by the adventures ahead as we strive collectively to set a positive tone for the music world and build stronger communities through singing together. Now more than ever in my lifetime, it's important for us to stand together and find new ways to keep music alive”
Paul Smith, CEO - VOCES8 Foundation, July 2020
Broadcast during the ‘lock-down’ summer of 2020, filmed in HD from the intimate setting of the VOCES8 Centre, this online festival featured some of the world's finest vocal ensembles. The line-up included VOCES8, I Fagiolini, Stile Antico, The Swingles, The Sixteen (from Kings Place), The Gesualdo Six, Apollo5, Chanticleer (from San Francisco), and a special guest appearance by The Academy of Ancient Music.
As a LIVE From London Extra treat, the English Chamber Orchestra gave a concert for the start of their 60th anniversary season with a special concert in tribute to pioneering conductor and harpsichordist Raymond Leppard, who died in October 2019.
These award-winning ensembles performed their favourite works and pieces for which they've become renowned, singing repertoire from the Renaissance to contemporary A Cappella - a veritable 'transport of delight' from the superb acoustic of Wren's St Anne and St Agnes Church in the heart of the City of London.
The festival was broadcast online every Saturday for ten weeks from the 1st of August and offered a chance for a worldwide audience to reconnect with live choral music.
Please note: The ticket links that appear in videos on this page are historic and not operational
The original LIVE From London Trailer