Escolania de Montserrat

Escolania de Montserrat description

There is no more reliable goosebump generator than a great boys’ choir. While King’s College Cambridge and the Vienna Boys regularly tour to Australia, this extraordinary ensemble – which topped BBC Music Magazine’s list of the 10 best choirs in the world – has never performed here.

Founded in the 13th century, it is the oldest extant boys’ choir in the world and its rigorous training and selection criteria ensure its standards never slip. The remarkable boys of Escolania are taught to express music in a mature and passionate vein, perfectly suited to the Spanish sacred repertoire to which the magnificent Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey is home.

In all of their selections, the boys sang with near-faultless intonation and exceptional musical sensitivity, a tribute to… their leader, Bernat Vivancos, another former Montserrat choirboy.

Washington Post

Among ancient works from the Abbey’s fabled 14th century “Red Book”, you’ll also hear those by more recent masters, spanning the 17th century to the present day. The second half of the concert is devoted to the wonderfully earthy Catalan folk arrangements which are the choir’s other trademark.

This is an exclusive and rare event. Given the overnight hike to the Abbey is a stretch, make the pilgrimage instead to this concert, close your eyes and be transported to the highest peaks of the Catalan mountains at dawn. A glorious and spine-chilling experience.