Unaccompanied: The Black Voices will perform in Viet Nam. — File photo

HA NOI — The British a capella group Black Voices, who built up their reputation for delivering stunning performances through soulful and inspirational harmonic blends, will have their Viet Nam debut performance in HCM City on Sunday.

Since 1987, Black Voices has forged its own dynamic way of distilling and re-presenting music from a Caribbean, black British perspective. Grounded in the church, the group presents a cappella, both sacred and secular, in a challenging and entertaining way.

The group has an extensive repertoire, including spirituals, traditional African, Caribbean and English folk songs, as well as jazz, gospel, pop and reggae. They hosted and presented an a cappella series on BBC Radio 2, as well as performed on radio and television in numerous countries around the world.

Currently, the group operates as a professional collective, but maintains its tradition of performing as a quintet.

Black Voices describe their collection as "a carefully woven tapestry covering a broad spectrum of musical styles" and they continually add new threads of colour to their rich fabric of oral music.

The group has seen a few famous faces in its audiences, including Nelson Mandela, the late Pope, and most of the members of the British Royal Family.

In celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Black Voices' debut show in Viet Nam will take place at HCM City Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square, District 1, at 8pm.

Following the debut performance, the group will have another show in the capital city at the Ha Noi Opera House next Monday. The next day, Black Voices will perform at an invitation-only reception hosted by the British Ambassador in Viet Nam.

Besides these shows, the group will also deliver master classes for singers at the Music Conservatory and the Ballet, Symphony& Orchestra in HCM City as well as at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music and Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet in Ha Noi.

British Council director Robin Rickard commented on the group's show: "There is no better way to represent the diversity of Britain and thus celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee than through their performance."

Tickets for the public shows cost VND150,000, 250,000, 350,000, 500,000 and can be purchased at the HCM City Ballet, Symphony and Orchestra for the show in HCM City, and at the ticketvn@gmail.com or dial 0913489858 for the show in Ha Noi. Preferential prices for students are available at VND100,000. — VNS