Event information 

Open To The World 2023 Vocal Music Festival presents a special evening in Vilnius. 9 pm on Saturday, December 2, at the cozy St. Catherine's Church, VOCES8 and Ringmasters will deliver a stylistically diverse, atmospheric, and unique musical program. This marks the Ringmasters' inaugural visit to Lithuania and the first joint concert of the talented British and Swedish performers in the country.

VOCES8 is renowned for its highly sensitive, luminous, and elegant sound. The group uses an astonishingly meticulous method that controls and harmonizes the natural vibrato of each of its members and, if necessary, neutralizes it completely. This creates a unique and silky-smooth sound.

The ensemble receives regular praise from critics, such as: 'The Rolls-Royce of British a cappella ensembles' (The Art Desk), 'A perfect blend of calm contentment and soaring spirit' (The Independent), and 'They bring a new dimension to the word ‘ensemble’ with meticulous timing and tuning' (Gramophone Magazine).

The vocal ensemble’s repertoire effortlessly combines music from various styles and eras, from 18th-century polyphonies to original jazz and popular music arrangements.

VOCES8 will visit Lithuania for the third time as part of the Open To The World project. In 2018 and 2021, they performed four sold-out concerts with Bel Canto Choir Vilnius, captivating audiences with their stunning performances. This year, they will return to their beloved Vilnius to perform not only with the hosting Lithuanian choir but also with other guests of the Open To The World 2023 festival.

The world champions of barbershop music seamlessly blend their extraordinary virtuosity with the infectious energy of pop music. Their vibrant melodies and captivating live performances take audiences on a journey from beloved barbershop classics to enchanting Swedish choral music, from the timeless tunes of Simon and Garfunkel to the iconic hits of the Beatles and Elvis Presley. The remarkable talents of these Swedish performers will not only astonish you with their sonorous, meticulously harmonized chords and perfect consonance but also with their tasteful choreography.

The members of Ringmasters are classically trained choral singers from Stockholm’s most prestigious music schools. However, in 2006, after stumbling upon barbershop music in an episode of The Simpsons, the group of friends decided that singing in Sweden's best choirs was not enough. They underwent six years of intensive training before finally being crowned the best barbershop quartet in the world in 2012. Ringmasters became the first non-American group to win the world’s most important barbershop music competition, organized by the Barbershop Harmony Society.

Ringmasters will perform a diverse program in their debut concert in Vilnius, ranging from classical to musicals, jazz, and pop music. With their meticulously tuned Swedish voices and energetic performance, the group will create an unforgettable musical experience.

VOCES8 and Ringmasters also prepare for a spectacular finale featuring two premieres specially crafted for the Vilnius concert. These beloved British and Swedish groups will showcase Ringmasters' leader Rasmus Krigström's composition, "Ring Out, Wild Bells," which is set to the lyrics of Alfred Lord Tennyson. Additionally, they will present a rendition of the gospel hymn "Shall We Gather By The River," arranged by VOCES8 tenor Blake Morgan.

VOCES8 (artistic director Barnaby Smith)

Ringmasters (artistic director Rasmus Krigström)

Producers of the Open To The World 2023 Vocal Music Festival: Bel Canto Choir Vilnius and Audrius Valatkevičius.