VOCES8: The Blue Bird by Charles Villiers Stanford

VOCES8 sings 'The Blue Bird' by Charles Villiers Stanford at the VOCES8 Centre in London.
TEXT by Mary E. Coleridge
The lake lay blue below the hill.
O'er it, as I looked, there flew
Across the waters, cold and still,
A bird whose wings were palest blue.
The sky above was blue at last,
The sky beneath me blue in blue.
A moment, ere the bird had passed,
It caught his image as he flew.

[@cyzmix7341]

I literally have never heard better voices than those held by Andrea and Molly. Their accuracy and tone is out of this world.

[@OnDasherOnDancer]

I totally agree!❤

[@jsguitargeek1432]

@@OnDasherOnDancer 100% - incredible

[@CamvanAken]

Emma Kirkby - when your partisanship allows you to listen to anyone else

[@FromG2eminor]

I see Voces8 and I hit play...then I hit replay. Simply best of the best.

[@splv21]

Andrea, best soprano ever ❤…

[@dorafurman]

Yes!

[@jennifergrundy4096]

Absolutely!

[@katiegoddard3899]

Agreed!!

[@chrst7346]

alas, here it is Andrea AND Molly inseparably entertwined… such a perfect blend ❤

[@staffanolofsson8201]

Please, stop praising Andrea, yes she is wonderful, beautiful, and has a wonderful soprano voice, and so on, but the whole existence of this group builds upon the trust each member has upon the others. In another word: TOGETHER!

[@genevievesulway830]

Glorious ! I expect nothing less from Voces8. The sopranos blend is as one voice. Perfection ❤

[@janetbrown9211]

Wow! Andrea and Molly in such unison. Incredible as ever. Thank you Voces8

[@SilentStorm27]

My thought as well ! The blend of their two voices is, well.. perfection 🤩

[@steve1000]

And the vibratoless style makes it even more of a challenge.

[@richardseewald4739]

A reminder that we humans are capable of creating incredible beauty.

[@ronpritchard6720]

Thanks to our creator!

[@yvonnemason9137]

Having sung the soprano part as a solo, I can say that it takes a huge amount of control to pull it off well. Andrea and Molly make it look like child's play. They are exquisite! Well done, once again to my favourite choir! :D

[@charleswester5150]

I forgot to breathe again. How close to perfection can you get, this side of heaven? Such beauty in our fallen world is so precious.

[@jsguitargeek1432]

Just said same

[@tinyshepherdess7710]

The only thing that would be better than listening to a group like this is singing in a group like this...♥

[@MrBoybergs]

Stunning. i've never heard more precise and perfect intonation with any voice or musical instrument than that achieved by the two female sopranos.

[@jools1623]

Good to see Molly back and always worth hearing her and Andrea in perfect unison.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

It is spring in Sweden. This song fits perfectly for our blue evenings when the sun has set. Wonderful VOCES8, as always!

[@AshleyLebedev]

So true! As a woman who has spent her fair share of time watching those shores and skies this time of year

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@AshleyLebedev This time of year, with shifting skies, is our time.

[@staffanolofsson8201]

@@AshleyLebedev And I believe time watching is my favourite game.

[@jpadiver]

Mon Dieu, Andrea showing the world what pure tonality really is. Outstanding recording team, thanks for brightening the day!

[@Silkari]

Yes, yes, yes! Perfect piece for you all! Magic. Have been waiting for you to do this. Absolutely beautiful. Stunning calm, soprano unison, and I definitely have a weakness for Blake's voice carrying that tenor line with such tenderness and ease. Can't wait to hear you live one day!

[@saetmusic]

This is such a beautiful piece, but this performance was beyond exquisite! It was breathtaking!

[@CaresinVerse]

Andrea has the best soprano in this world. Gives me goosebumps. She and Molly are so awesome together. This whole group is like a big opening in heaven that engulfs the listeners with their harmony.

[@jsguitargeek1432]

My God this is beautiful -- I swear, that when I die - if I hear this when I wake up in the afterlife I'll know that I went up - not down

[@Chaqella]

This touched my soul in so many beautiful ways. Beyond words. Thank you.

[@mattnipper6060]

Still here 2 months later

[@Ozpeter]

I recall as a young tenor singing this with the Exultate Singers under the direction of the late Garrett O'Brien probably 50+ years ago, at the "Boston Stump" (church in Lincolnshire, England). The two solo sopranos - Pamela Morrice and Janet Lince it must have been - stood at the back end of the church with the remainder of the choir in front of the altar. That separation really seemed to suit the work. But I suspect it would not have been suitable for a video. I loved this song so much I incorporated elements into a song of my own as a fond tribute to one of the sopranos. Anyway, back to the present - and indeed this performance is a present for lovers of the work, thank you!

[@tigger23844]

Sopranos blend so perfectly they sound like one voice.

[@marlenemeldrum7382]

EXCELLENT TECHIQUE!!! WONDERFUL SINGING-the clarity, cleaness and accuracy of tone....sung like string Instruments, or perhaps more accurate woodwinds without unnecessary hysterics and..VERY LITTLE VIBRATO!! JUST GLORIOUS BEAUTIFUL SINGING...this is techique at its finest....

[@heidigusset8479]

Absolutely gorgeous and transports one to the blue lake seeing the blue bird. Thank you!

[@mariasassin8268]

Somewhere close to heaven...

[@robertduerr4688]

This was absolutely STUNNING! We did this in college many years ago along with "Silence and Music" by RVW. They do go together as the dedication in the RVW piece is, "To the memory of Charles Villiers Stanford, and his Blue Bird." I would love if they would record that one too.

[@williamstachour4019]

So sad at Mollys departure. I really feel they captured lightning in a bottle with this lineup. Impossible to top. I wish her the best in what follows.

[@user-hh6xb7jh6t]

Is there a vacant place??

[@SteveL2012]

Thank you Voces8 for giving us much needed respite during these tumultuous times. It is everything. ❤

[@peterburdge4138]

Been waiting many years for you to perform this piece and the wait has been worth it.

[@pereirn]

I sang the 1st sop in this years ago. So lovely to hear my favourite group's rendition and Andrea's voice from heaven doing those "blue"s, and Molly and Andrea sounding like one voice.

[@larrymiller4]

Gives me chills, and spreads warmth over the soul. Thank you, v8.

[@rainerstillers7583]

Many rightly praise the wonderful, almost unbelievable clarity and lightness of the soprano. My choir sang this piece a few years ago and I know how hellishly difficult it is to achieve this effect. But it only works when the alto, tenor and bass also sing their wonderful harmonic lines clearly and easily. As you can hear here.

[@owlley]

Those sublime high notes....golly. also nice to hear the birds singing along with you! Sad to hear Molly is leaving. The blend was amazing , her voice was such a match for the group and I wish her well.

[@JulianYvesVA]

I remember singing this 10 years ago in college! Lovely song and I still remember the tenor part to this day. Well done, as always!

[@therealhaemony]

Beautiful, smooth like butter. Love the crunchy bits. Great song!

[@figobaymue]

goodbye Molly. Glad to see you six times live with the group. Curious to find out who will take her place.

[@lancerc123]

Is Molly leaving?

[@figobaymue]

@@lancerc123 sadly yes. it was announced today.

[@teunvanbergen3122]

So pure, so balanced, so heavenly. Thank you so much again❤ In September Voces 8 in Holland, tickets are already bought😊

[@hannulampila4424]

I love also Molly's sweet voice. When Andrea and Molly sing unisono they are the same voice. It is so beautiful.

[@flugelberger]

What a beautiful start to my morning (UK). Thank you.

[@ericnorthey]

That's just lovely, lovely singing! Thank you.

[@dinaivanova764]

Beautiful! Extremely beautiful! ❤️

[@johnfenton3699]

Only last week I heard this on ClassicFM and thought, "I wonder if Voces8 will ever record this?" desperately hoping that you would ... Thank you - I am deeply in your debt.

[@donnaj9964]

Exquisite. I needed this so much today--thank you.

[@light1002]

Just stunning...thank you. If I was playing it on vinyl, it would already be wearing out!

[@carolinekelley2421]

i had the honor of singing the descant line on my choir’s european tour last summer. this song brings back so many joyful memories. absolutely stunning!

[@turbine6202]

One of my top ten performed by my favourite choir. Thank you Voces8.

[@mcgitarz]

Stunning as always. When I see a new Voces8 video is available I swear my heart skips a beat or two. Thank you!

[@judithwhitehouse2149]

Great that so many groups have been inspired by Stanford's centenary to learn this amazing piece!

[@Le_Trouvere]

I've been waiting VERY patiently for this... it did not disappoint 🙏

[@awakening4210]

Remarkable, as always. There's so much beauty in this.Thank you.

[@kcmusicus]

When I compose choral a cappella music, this is the quality of performance I imagine in my head.

[@tonygrimwood3162]

Superb. Transporting, transfixing and utterly gorgeous! 💖🙏

[@gustavosalcedo3092]

Greetings. You all are truly an amazing artists Voces8! What a heavenly voices. Bravissimo!!!

[@dfishpool7052]

Thank you for this most sublime rendition of this beautiful composition - such control in your performance - truly epic.

[@Babbajune]

Simply beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Mezilesialan]

Your voices ! So beautiful ❤

[@birchtree28]

OMG just discovered. So beautiful. Perfection :)

[@raymorgan4337]

Phew.... astounding.

[@trislanderadventures7831]

Such an incredible performance of this piece. And thank you for spelling the title correctly - I've seen it as 'The Bluebird" before, and that wasn't the title Stanford gave it!

[@helensinclair1968]

They keep getting better. Less indulgent now, just sublime!

[@Laion_01]

Grande harmonia. Agudos impressionantes.

[@lekat525]

Speechless 🕊

[@Archimusik]

Stanford - you curmudgeonly, cantankerous man! How did you compose such an exquisitely simple and beautiful part song that never fails to move me to tears?! Incredible.

[@corlisscrabtree3647]

Thank you 🙏

[@cynthiat6505]

Perfection! Overtones!!!!!!!!

[@ulianaoleshkovskaia4175]

Divine!❤

[@vsobko]

Дуже дякую! Молодці!

[@umbertototale3083]

Was ein harmonischer sphärischer Stimmenklangkörper - unfassbar👍👍👍👍👍👍💓

[@margaretnadin8030]

Absolutely glorious. CVS a much underrated composer.

[@joaoguimaraes5430]

Just wonderful!!

[@GerbenGroeneveld]

Gorgeous!

[@jeffbird5082]

If you guys ever had your own choir virtual instrument every music composer who loves choral music would instantly buy it!!! 😊

[@chadstaten5586]

What a sublime instrument is the human voice. Why do so many other singers endeavour to bury purity and intonation such as this under layers of nauseating vibrato?

[@patrickselden5747]

Lovely! ☝️😎

[@l-m4224]

Just wow ❤❤❤ exquisite 👌🏻

[@merri-toddwebster2473]

Another flawless performance of an exquisite piece. This doesn't get performed often enough, I think.

[@Disagreeman]

Theese stunning vocals

[@jayleon89]

Oh how i miss chamber choir, the colors i see with this singing is like a warm day for me.

[@michaelfoster-qw2tw]

I just got back from a 5,000 mile road trip to see the eclipse; and this, and THIS welcome home!

[@DanielSullivanWI]

Stunning as expected from Voces 8

[@niedjatenorio7424]

So beautiful!!!

[@suzannestevens8820]

Sublime

[@atrotossavainen8110]

Now to have had Judith Bingham's The Drowned Lovers as a companion to this wonderful performance of "the original," as it were ♥

[@Iddybud]

Beautiful! ❤

[@DeltadronesBr]

Wonderful!

[@kickbuttme]

The purest tone...

[@suelowcockharris1954]

Beautiful!

[@natashaallen5817]

Beautiful, thank you x

[@emilytolman46]

So beautiful!!!❤

[@lluisrafalessole-classical5068]

Amazing

[@irinaschauer6696]

❤Wunderschön ❤

[@rodrumble6202]

But when Katie's voice comes through!

[@KwesiPrince-6102]

Woww..Fantastic ❤

[@JohnGMeadows]

Perfection.

[@annakajetanowicz7343]

Jesteście najlepsi na świecie. Na pewno to wiecie

[@josephmosikili1902]

Brava upon Andrea, she surely sings like an archangel...

[@jbcraipeau]

You guys...💯🙌

[@fulgenjbatista4640]

❤

[@jeanlucgrollet4955]

Andréa, un ange

[@dai-seido]

職場に該当する人がいます。 その人は職場を平気でかき乱すことも厭わず、Aさんの悪口をBさんが言ってたと告げ口して、2人の関係をさらに悪化させるのも当たり前です。ですが、表面的にはそんな事するように見せず、善人ぶりを演じるのも上手でした。ただ、それも長続きできるわけもなく、その人にとって不利な状況になると、必ず「階段から転倒して骨折。松葉杖」になったり、「娘が部活で腕の骨折」や「自分が料理で手の指を切ってしまい、大量出血で入院」になるんです。そんな都合よく怪我するものかと思いますが、ギブスをしてたり、松葉杖してるし、医師の診断書もでてくるので、怪我は本当なんだと信じざるを得ないですが、どこか腑におちませんでした。しかし、この間職場の先輩が「あの人、ミュンヒハウゼンだよ」と言ってて、その時に始めて病名の存在を知りました。目的が「注目されたい。あわれんで欲しい。同情されたい。大事にされたい。特別にされたい。」などなど、、、、親からの愛情が極端に欠如して育ったのかなと思います。自分を怪我してまでやるのは、正気な人間からすると考えられないですね💦

[@cht2162]

priceless

[@Aidan_Smith84]

Unison sopranos so good it could be AI.. holy moly!