The Performing Arts Series is proud to present the iconic vocal group Anonymous 4 in its only Virginia performance this season, October 2, 2012 at 7:30pm in Roanoke College’s Olin Theater. To mark its 25th year together, Anonymous 4 has created a unique concert program, “Anthology 25.” It features ancient, traditional and modern works from each of the group’s 19 prize-winning, chart-topping harmonia mundi CDs. The selections are in one, two, three and four voices. They range from 11th century plainchant, richly harmonic English conductus to spicy French motets of the 13th century, exotic 15th century Hungarian polyphony, 19th century shape note hymns and contemporary works.

When four young women gathered to sing through some medieval chant and polyphony in the spring of 1986, it was something that countless small groups of musicians do every day in a search for artistic adventure and autonomy that their normal musical pursuits cannot provide. Once every now and then, the people themselves and the unity of their musical intent just click . . . there’s a chemistry . . . and a long term musical relationship is born.

Renowned for their unearthly vocal blend and virtuosic ensemble singing, the four women of Anonymous 4 combine historical scholarship with contemporary performance intuition to create their magical sound. Their programs have included music from the year 1000; the ecstatic music and poetry of the 12th-century abbess and mystic, Hildegard of Bingen; 13th-century chant and polyphony from England, France, and Spain; American folksongs, shape note tunes, and gospel songs; and works newly written for the group. Anonymous 4 has performed for sold-out audiences on major concert series and at festivals throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East; and has made 19 best-selling recordings for harmonia mundi usa. The group writes:
“In partnership with each other, and with harmonia mundi usa and long-time producer Robina Young, we’ve been privileged to be able to record almost all of our concert programs. In Anthology 25, we’ve created a special concert to celebrate 25 years together. It contains one piece from each of our harmonia mundi usa recordings, as well as a work written for us by Richard Einhorn, the composer of Voices of Light, — PLUS a brand new work by the celebrated New York composer David Lang. We offer this as our anniversary gift to you, our listeners, who have helped to make it all possible. “

Tickets to the October 2 performance are available by calling the Olin Hall Box Office at (540) 375-2333. General admission tickets are $12, $8 for students and senior citizens (55+) and $5 for groups 8+. Tickets are available by calling the Olin Hall Box Office at (540) 375-2333 or on-line at www.roanoke.edu/tickets

Submitted by the Olin Hall Box Office