Five Minutes, Five Questions The King's Singers

Courtesy photo London-based The King's Singers performed at Walton Arts Center in 2010 and return Dec. 11 for a concert of holiday classics and songs from their newest album, "Gold," which marks their 50th anniversary.
Courtesy photo London-based The King's Singers performed at Walton Arts Center in 2010 and return Dec. 11 for a concert of holiday classics and songs from their newest album, "Gold," which marks their 50th anniversary.

Peter Lane, Walton Arts Center president and CEO -- and self-professed "huge classical music geek" -- gushed to 'SUP over the return of London's The King's Singers when the full WAC season was announced earlier this year.

"The King's Singers are at the pinnacle of that type of a capella music -- the non-beatbox type where it's real choral -- really at the pinnacle of what you would want to hear in terms of that vocal clarity ensemble intonation. And they are truly one of the most incredible vocal ensembles," Lane said proudly of the WAC's offering to music lovers.

FAQ

The King’s Singers

WHEN — 7 p.m. Dec. 11

WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville

COST — $12-$42

INFO — 443-5600, waltonartscenter.org or kingssingers.com

The all-male choral group, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding this year, may have been created on traditional choral repertoire, but today the six singers are known for their versatility and humor. The group's second countertenor Tim Wayne-Wright answered a few questions for 'SUP ahead of the group's return to shed light on why more than just classical music lovers will enjoy the show.

Q. What makes the music in your repertoire feel timeless to you?

A. The King's Singers library has around 3,500 different titles of sheet music, across a huge variety of genres and eras -- Renaissance, classical, folk, spiritual, pop, jazz and contemporary. Our repertoire really does contain timeless pieces, and I believe that this is due to the fact that so much of our music was written especially for our six voices. Our vocal lineup of two countertenors, just one tenor, two baritones and one bass creates a richness to our sound as half the group is providing a thick foundation of sound, upon which the higher voices can sit. The repertoire really does play to our strengths, and this means that what worked 50 years ago, still works today.

Q. What are some misconceptions about choral music you hope The King's Singers dispel?

A. My main one would be the idea that singers can only sing one type of music. The joy about this ensemble is that one moment you can be singing Carlo Gesualdo's Tenebrae Responsories and, in the same concert, you'll then be performing some Bublé!

Q. How do you feel you have grown as an artist as a result of being part of The King's Singers?

A. I have been in The KS for 10 years, and when I think back to my early years in the group, I feel that this group really makes you develop in every element of stage craft, without really consciously thinking about it! We perform somewhere between 120 and 140 concerts each year, so we are constantly in the public eye, and this really does change you as a performer -- how to communicate the text of a piece so that the audience really feels that you mean every single word of what you're singing. Also, how to act in the more slapstick repertoire is important -- you have to master it all!

Q. Do you have a favorite moment in the performance, or favorite audience response to a tune?

A. It always really tickles me when I hear an audience member crying with laughter! We do have some very funny pieces, and they always seem to get a good response! The only problem is that it's actually very difficult to sing whilst trying not to giggle yourself.

Q. Do you have any special memories with your own family tied to any of the holiday tunes you'll be performing?

A. Christmas is such a special time of year and the repertoire which we'll sing in the second half, the lighter rep, always reminds me of wonderfully happy times putting the decorations up at home, listening to Christmas LPs of artists such as Perry Como, singing the Christmas classics -- "Sleigh Ride," "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells," to name but a few!

NAN What's Up on 12/07/2018

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