Schola sings with Sigur Rós at the Albert Hall

Some photos from our recent four night run at the Royal Albert Hall with the incredible Icelandic post-rock band Sigur Rós. Two teams of boys, 40 in total, enjoyed the opportunity to join with the band and organ superstar Anna Lapwood for two performances each in front of capacity audiences of 5,000 people.

The reviews were amazing. 'At the end of 2008 slow-burner Ára Bátur, a boys’ choir – the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan school – are illuminated to the side of the stage, while above them Anna Lapwood helms the Albert Hall’s colossal, 9,999 pipe grand organ. This time, the crescendo is so huge as to be totally irresistible. Lapwood and the choir remain for Sigur Rós’s biggest hit, Hoppípola, the energy finally spilling over into something genuinely sublime.' The Guardian.

'A school choir appeared almost out of nowhere, the Royal Albert Hall’s organ alighted, and souls were lifted from their seats.' The Evening Standard

'vocalist Malakai Bayoh deliver a spine-tingling solo, while the closing pair of ‘Ára bátur’ and ‘Hoppípolla’ see the use of the venue’s iconic pipe organ and stunning backing from the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School children’s choir.' Rolling Stone Magazine

'the first ever live performance of ‘Ára bátu' – made all the more heavenly by being joined by the Schola Cantorum choir of the Cardinal Vaughan School, along with Royal Albert Hall resident Anna Lapwood on the venue’s towering and classic pipe organ. NME

This was a remarkable experience, made all the more memorable by the incredibly kind and generous spirit of everyone involved. The shows were being filmed for a documentary about the band which we look forward to seeing at some point in the future.

Photos Jez Pennington, Claire Powell and CVMS.