Ensemble Basiani, Georgian State Vocal Ensemble
Presented by the Princeton University Concerts series. To purchase, and for a complete event listing, click here.
Thriving for centuries, the world’s oldest polyphonic choral tradition keeps alive the rich heritage of folk songs, monastic chants, religious hymns, and epic ballads that have shaped the very spirit of the country of Georgia. This singular singing style, proclaimed by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity, pours from the twelve male vocalists of Ensemble Basiani in an unforgettably haunting way—especially within the spellbinding acoustic of the Princeton University Chapel. In a program traversing the 7th-13th centuries, these internationally-beloved singers bring the very soul of their homeland to our doorstep, reminding us of the timeless modernity of ancient tradition.