Oxford Sings: BBC Singers with Eric Whitacre

The BBC Singers close Oxford Sings with a late-night performance, bringing the festival day to a contemplative conclusion.

The Sacred Veil is a 12-movement work and the most recent collaboration between composer and conductor Eric Whitacre and poet/lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri. Whitacre's work is globally renowned for its beauty, earning a Grammy Award and extensive critical acclaim.

Silvestri’s wife, Julie, died of ovarian cancer at age 36 in 2005, leaving two young children. Including texts from Whitacre, Silvestri, and Julie herself, The Sacred Veil tells a story of courtship, love, loss and the search for solace - an intimate and heartfelt way to close-out Oxford Sings. 

Since 1924, the BBC Singers have held a unique place at the heart of the UK’s choral life, collaborating with many of the world’s leading composers, conductors and soloists.  They were awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Ensemble Award in March 2024.

Part of Oxford Sings, a day-long celebration of singing in its many forms.