Libera is as close as a boyschoir could ever be to be called a pop sensation but in a way that's exactly what this group is. With millions of CDs sold and touring world wide this ensemble has taken choral music to whole new audiences to great success. The singers of Libera who are aged seven to sixteen attend many different local schools in South London and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band. This Christmas release, their first holiday album, is superb and you will listen to this recording season after season.

The distinctive sound of LIBERA has traveled the world in the last few years, topping both mainstream and the classical charts around the globe. The boys in the group, under the musical direction of Robert Prizeman, come together to produce truly extraordinary music, with results unlike any other vocal group around today. Coinciding with a tour in Japan in April 2010, Libera return with their new album Peace. Familiar to audiences across the world, the boys have a stunningly original sound, which is at once both ancient and modern. Their distinctive flowing white robes symbolize the traditional origins of their style -- yet their music reaches across the generations to a new mainstream audience. LIBERA's success in album charts around the world bears witness to the extraordinary appeal of this unique `boy band'. Enchanting audiences wherever they go, they have attracted an enthusiastic fan base in many countries, particularly the United States following their appearances at the 2007 Kennedy Center Awards and the 2008 Papal Mass in New York, as well as their first US tour in the spring of `08.

Enya's Orinoco Flow and Bach's Air on a G string; the disc also includes a track penned by Brian Wilson called 'Love and Mercy'. This is the song Libera performed to a star-studded audience in Washington DC before Christmas at the Kennedy Centre Honours, an audience which included President Bush, Robert De Niro, Cameron Diaz and Brian Wilson himself. The talented singers of Libera come from a variety of different schools and backgrounds in London and join together at a church in South London where they rehearse and perform for many hours each week. The youngest is seven and the oldest members are fourteen. Alongside their unique Libera music, the boy singers enjoy a wide repertoire from classical and cathedral pieces to works for pop and media productions. In recent years they have sung on films like 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Hannibal' and with singers like Bjork, Elton John & Pavarotti. Libera is directed by Robert Prizeman, the well respected musical advisor to the BBC religious TV programme Songs of Praise. Robert arranges, if not writes all of the music that Libera perform. Sales of Libera's albums worldwide are now over 300,000 and the boys have a strong following of fans.

Eternal Ð The Best of Libera', a 32 track double-album containing 26 Libera favourites drawn from earlier releases, as well as four brand new tracks: 'Mother of God' (music by John Tavener), 'Gaudete' (traditional music and words, arranged by Robert Prizeman), 'You Were There' (music by Takatsugu Muramatsu and arranged by Robert Prizeman), and 'How can I keep from singing?' (traditional music, words by R. Lowry and arranged by Robert Prizeman) The collection also features two remixed songs previously only available as digital downloads and released here for the first time on CD.

A beautiful swan extends its wing against a pastel blue background on the cover of 'Luminosa,' and it sets the mood for the first cut, 'Vespera,' which begins with a Gregorian-type chant, picks up soaring synthesizer and sweet soprano harmonies, and returns to one of the loveliest solos we've heard. This is sacred choral music crossing over into New Age, the Leslie Garrett Show is big in England, and so is Libera who has had several highly successful songs in the British charts. There is a picture of the group in the center of the liner notes, 13 young boys, probably 6 to 8 years old, dressed casually, hanging out with each other. There are 12 songs here, occaisionally accompanied, but the focus is on the amazing, perfect voices of the boys. On 'Ave Maria' (based on Ave Maria by Caccini), 'Lacrymosa' (based on Carnival of the Animals by Saint Saens), 'Sacris Solemnis' (based on Symphony No. 7: Allegretto by Beethoven) and 'Semele' (from Semele by Handel), we hear these classical pieces in a new light. The title tune, based on 'Clair de Lune' by Debussy, is a haunting, dreamy masterpiece, 'Stabat' beautifully continues the mood, as does 'Veni Sancte' and the final cut, 'Sanctus II,' based on Pachelbel's 'Canon.' Highly recommended and simply lovely throughout.

This recording, combines sacred texts, familiar tunes and a choir and fuses it with new age and techno styles. The Sanctus is arranged from Pachelbel's Canon and Te Lucis uses the Canon by Tallis. The texts were adapted from the Latin Mass, Requiem, Stabat Mater, Compline and the Psalms. The pure and perfectly blended sound of Libera adds depth to this music. Composer Robert Prizeman, who is also Libera's director, has created a whirlpool of sound, which attempts to create a freedom of the mind.

Libera's latest chart-topping album 'Free' has an alluring atmosphere of its own, with Libera sublimely blending traditional hymns, plainsong and modern compositions that instill an incredible tranquility and freedom that awakens the soul. Soaring high notes, entrancing voices, blissful harmonies, ethereal sounds and striking chords are the essence of Libera Robert Prizeman composed the songs unearthing and developing the natural vocal characteristics of each of the boys, both as part of the ensemble and as soloists. Along with its predecessors, 'Free' has a global appeal that transcends all others.

The twenty-four boys aged seven to sixteen who make up the vocal band Libera, and who meet several hours each week at a church in South London to rehearse and perform, have been described as 'normal' and 'ordinary'. However, as their new EMI CD amply demonstrates, the music the produce is truly extraordinary. With shimmering, mystical chords and ecstatic harmonies, they are unlike any other group you have ever heard. Of the twelve tracks on Visions, Libera's second album for EMI Classics, a few will sound familiar, including Locus Iste, which is based on the well-known Pachelbel Canon, the hymn Abide with me, and Ave Maria. The remaining tracks are entirely original, with titles like New Day, Sing for ever and Something sings. The singers of Libera attend local primary schools and come from a variety of backgrounds. Although they are boys and they sing, they do not think of themselves as choirboys, but rather as an alternative kind of boy band. While the unique sound of Libera may be impossible to pigeonhole, its universal appeal has endeared the group to fans all over the world, particularly in the US, the UK, Korea and Japan, where their previous CDs have topped the mainstream and classical charts.

The beautiful full-color liner notes of 'Angel Voices' fold out to show us a panoramic portrait of white-clad boy singers, ages 7 to 14, members of renowned 23-voice, South London-based boy's choir, Libera. Libera's repertoire is wide, from classical and cathedral pieces to works for pop and media productions. The backlit photo makes the boys appear to be angels, and that impression is not at all diminished by the sweetly soaring music. 'Far Away,' 'Sanctus' (based on Pachelbel's 'Canon'), 'Ave Maria,' the touching 'Going Home' (based on Dvorak's 'From the New World'), the lovely hymn 'Be Still My Soul,' the stunning 'Salva Me,' 'I Vow to Thee, My Country,' 'Voca Me,' the poignant, 'Always with You,' 'We Are the Lost,' the marvelous 'I Am the Day' and 'Recordare' are favorites, but all 15 light-to-heavily-accompanied tunes are very fine. Pure soprano leads and harmonies, a touching, well-chosen song selection - 'Voices' is a choral treat that lifts us up from the earthbound mundane to the bright, clear, rarified air of angels.

Listen to Abide With Me in RealAudio.

Libera, the South London choral group of boys aged 9 to 15, brings a uniquely mystical and transcendent sound to their first live concert recording. Robert Prizeman, founder, arranger and director of Libera, has taken the simple purity of boys' voices and, with great care and respect for classical vocal tradition, has created a new sound. To hear them do it live is a real treat as Prizeman knows exactly what to feature about a boy's voice and how to blend textures, creating an etheral sound that envelops you. Excellent musicality, and the choir has such confidence.