Onwards to Cambridge....

Following Liverpool and Blackburn last weekend, the Choral Pilgrimage proceeds to Cambridge and St Albans next weekend, with concerts in St John's College Chapel on Friday (sponsored by Cambridge University Press) and St Albans Abbey on Saturday. Some - but not many - tickets still available.
Here is what Fiona Maddocks wrote in the Observer yesterday about the Victoria programme: 'For their Choral Pilgrimage 2011, which began in Oxford and travels to 31 venues until November, the Sixteen have chosen music devoted to the Virgin Mary by the Spanish Renaissance composer Victoria, marking his 400th anniversary. There is also a CD, Hail, Mother of the Redeemer. This virtuoso group can hardly improve on a superb opening performance. Singing at the crossing of Christ Church Cathedral, their interweaving of plainchant and polyphony soared to the holiest heights of this ancient building.'

Pilgrimage reaches Brighton

A great review from Friday's concert in Durham. There areonly two more opportunities to hear the 2010 Choral Pilgrimage programme, the next being on Friday in Brighton in the splendid St Batholomew's Church.

Durham Cathedral

Next stop on the Choral Pilgrimage is Durham Cathedral on Friday 15th at 7.30pm. It is renowned as a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. It was begun in 1093 and largely completed within 40 years. It is the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its Norman craftsmanship, and one of few to preserve the unity and integrity of its original design. And it has a fabulous acoustic and is one of the favourite places on our UK tour. Music by Sheppard, Byrd and Tallis, with a few tickets still available from 01904 651485.

Returns only at Southwell Minster tonight

The Choral Pilgrimage moves on tonight to Southwell Minster. The concert is sold out, although there might be a few returns at the door. There are still tickets available for tomorrow night's performance in another magnificent building, Peterborough Cathedral. Tickets available from 01733 452336.

We have a big party of Art Fund members coming tonight, and we are delighted that our partnership is working fruitfully.

We are recently back from the festival in La Chaise-Dieu, where we gave the French premiere of James MacMillan's Miserere in the beautiful Saint Georges de Saint Paulien near Le Puy. Great response from the audience and a splendid post-concert champagne reception at the Mairie. Brought back down to earth the following morning by a 3-hour delay on our BA flight back from Lyon..............

Catch up with the latest tour news

The Sixteen were in Lichfield and York in mid-July as part of their 2009 Choral Pilgrimage.

Near sell-out crowds braved the torrential rain to hear the group perform the a cappella Purcell & MacMillan programme ‘Bright Orb of Harmony’.

Before our rehearsal in Lichfield, hundreds of primary school children took part in a matinée performance. Based on a narration telling the story of Purcell’s life they sang pieces from the Pilgrimage programme as well as a rendition of ‘Come ye sons of art’ with actions!

This was the last matinée in a series of four that we’ve presented in collaboration with the National Centre for Early Music and Sing Up.