St. Olaf Choir: From the Critics
Press Contact:
Karl Reichert, Publicist
Phone: (612) 708-5275
E-Mail:karlreichert@visi.com
Press Materials/Photos available online at: stolafchoir.com
“The St. Olaf Choir…is … a much more select and precious group of choristers that can sing a gorgeous and absolutely focused unison that is alive and that has substance, shape and energy … It was a tour de force, carried out with a poise and power that brought the audience to its feet.”
The Washington Post
“When they opened their mouths to sing, an even wall of sound emerged: words clear, notes true. But more than that, the notes were felt …. (The St. Olaf Choir is) good because of its remarkable balance and mellow tone …. It’s good because of its dynamic shadings: its ability to sustain, then build from, nearly inaudible pianos, or to distinguish between a forte and a fortissimo … Dr. Anton Armstrong, the group’s leader since 1990, is clearly a gifted choral director – and a teacher to the core.”
The New York Times
“St. Olaf is simply the Gold Standard. It just doesn't get much better. (The St. Olaf Choir) boasts nearly a century of the finest choral traditions in the country. Its genius is rooted in the Norwegian Lutheran heritage … and the Northfield, Minnesota, choir has become world famous and set the standard for a style of singing emphasizing a fine choral blend and the European a cappella tradition.”
The Chattanoogan
“There seems to be no limit to the musicianship and the ardent expressiveness of the 75-voice St. Olaf Choir, nor to the canniness and the committed expertise of director Anton Armstrong ... (The St. Olaf Choir) performed with stunning sensitivity to a wide variety of musical styles and emotions. Choral blend - unanimity of tone color, attack and release - was there, of course, but so was clarity of texture - constant, loving attention to the ebb and flow of individual phrases - and all in the service, to quote Armstrong's goal, of letting the music "shine through and transform the lives of those who make and hear it."
The Des Moines Register
“The St. Olaf Choir … amply demonstrated why it is among the nation’s best.”
Denver Post
“… to hear the St. Olaf Choir is to experience choral singing of the highest order, a vocal sound that is near perfect in every technical detail. Brisbane Concert Hall stage rarely hears such musical mastery.”
Brisbane Courier Mail (Australia)
“Under Armstrong’s sensitive direction, the St. Olaf Choir was the epitome of fine ensemble musicianship, as every nuance of dynamics and phrasing was perfectly realized and executed.”
Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette
“In an evening filled with such a variety of choral repertory, it is difficult to single out moments from the overall level of excellence.”
The News-Gazette (Urbana, IL)
“The St. Olaf Choir displayed the tonal quality and precision of pitch that have always been the hallmarks of its sound … There were many moments of sublime beauty.”
The Sacramento Gazette
