Tallis Scholars bring five decades of Renaissance polyphony to Bogotá

The 15th International Festival of Sacred Music of Bogotá is concluding its final week with an event featuring the British vocal ensemble, The Tallis Scholars. Founded by Peter Phillips in 1973, the group has spent over five decades specializing in Renaissance polyphony, a style that remains remarkably consistent through generations of singers.

Their performance, Da Pacem: Paz en nuestros tiempos, takes place at San Ignacio Church on Thursday, October 1, at 6:30 p.m. This concert brings together works by Palestrina, Gombert, Orlando di Lasso, and Arvo Pärt, all centered around the theme of peace as a spiritual and human experience.

Phillips, who remains in charge of The Tallis Scholars, has a clear vision of their sound, which he emphasizes as being free from embellishments and aimed at clear, transparent, and balanced vocal performances. He does not consider The Tallis Scholars to be part of the Early Music movement, as their focus is on the voices themselves rather than historical instruments.

Despite not aiming for an authentic Renaissance sound, the ensemble's dedication to clarity and the complex architecture of Renaissance polyphony has earned them a distinctive reputation.