World first: Group delays album ‘for fear of appearing opportunistic’

Press Announcement – The Tallis Scholars delay their Tavener re-issue

Gimell has abandoned plans to re-issue The Tallis Scholars’ recording of John Tavener’s Ikon of Light on what would have been Sir John’s 70th birthday for fear of appearing opportunistic. The release has now been scheduled for April 2014.  The album will also include Funeral Ikos, the Great Canon of St Andrew of Crete and a performance of The Lamb conducted by the composer.Ikon of Light was commissioned by The Tallis Scholars and Sir John attended the recording sessions.

In his last recorded interview Sir John referred twice to The Tallis Scholars: the Ikon of Light was one of the pieces he most wanted to hear during his 70th year and when asked what music had most moved him in the previous year he mentioned The Tallis Scholars’ performance of the 16th-century John Taverner’s Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas at the BBC Proms.