At the cusp of a new millennium, 1999 was a banner year for pop music, with smash hits from artists like Britney Spears, Ricky Martin, TLC, and Cher. In the days of Y2K, MTV, and Napster, the Backstreet Boys topped the charts with hits like “I Want It That Way.” A quarter century later, Cantus’ annual Covers series takes us back to that iconic year for a high-energy program of pop hits so that we all might – as Prince proclaimed – “party like it’s 1999.” 

The “engaging” (New Yorker) low-voice ensemble Cantus is widely known for its trademark warmth and blend, innovative programming and riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus sound as having both “exalting finesse” and “expressive power” and refers to the “spontaneous grace” of its music making. The Philadelphia Inquirer called the group nothing short of “exquisite.” 

As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has come to prominence with its distinctive approach to creating music. Working without a conductor, the members of Cantus rehearse and perform as chamber musicians, each contributing to the entirety of the artistic process, creating programs that give voice to shared human experiences. As the Star Tribune has written, “The main hallmark of the Cantus sound has always been sheer quality and an unbroken belief in the special way that vocal music has of warming and invigorating the human spirit.”  

https://www.cantussings.org/