World-renowned King's College Choir Holds Concert in Beijing

On the evening of August 3, the renowned King's College Choir held a concert in the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing with about 1500 people in attendance. 

The opening concert of NCPA August Chorus Festival 2016 included four hymns: Blest Pair of Sirens,  O hearken Thou,  Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing and German Requiem.

Composed by Johannes Brahms, the German Requiem consists of seven movements for the chorus, soprano and baritone solos. The last movement said, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."

It was interesting that the choir sang the famous Chinese folk song 'Jasmine Flower' in Chinese after the hymns. 

King's College, Cambridge was created by King Henry VI at the age of 19 in 1441, in the hope of providing daily singing to God in his Chapel.

Today, the choir is directed by Stephen Cleobury, who has been in position for over three decades, during which time he has cooperated with many top orchestras and soloists; including Academy of Ancient Music, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Famed for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, it has sixteen choral boys, fourteen choral undergraduates and two organ scholars, who perform daily responsibilities for the choir and regard it as an important part in their life.