Tenebrae, a professional, all-male chamber choir from Britain, makes its Bermuda Festival debut this evening with the first of two concerts at St. John's Church, Pembroke, beginning at 8 p.m.

Founded and directed by Nigel Short, and often performing by candlelight, the choir creates an atmoshere of spiritual and musical reflection, where medieval chant and Renaissance works are interspersed with contemporary compositions.

The carefully selected team of singers uses a building's acoustics and atmosphere in order for its audience to experience the power and intimacy of the human voice.

The singers are drawn from outstanding musical backgrounds ¿ King's College, Cambridge; Westminster Abbey and Cathedral; St. Paul's Cathedral, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; and English National Opera ¿ to create a unique vocal mix, with an extraordinary range of vocal power and colour.

Tenebrae's exceptionally wide repertoire includes early, Renaissance, Baroque and classical music; romantic, 20th century works, as well as a variety of especially commissioned pieces, the most recent of which is Joby Talbot's 'Path of Miracles', which premiered in 2005.

Its unique virtuosity and style is captured on many recordings, mainly on the Signum Classics label, and include Mozart's 'Requiem' with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe.

Tenebrae is also associated artistically with the London Symphony Orchestra and LSO Live through a series of critically and publicly acclaimed performances and recordings at the Barbican in London.

This year's engagements include two Proms performances at London's Royal Albert Hall, and it has been nominated for a 1007 Royal Philharmonic Society Award.

Founder-director Nigel Short began his musical life as a chorister at Solihull parish church before going on to study singing and piano at the Royal College of Music, London. He began his career as a soloist in opera and oratorio, and as a member of specialist vocal ensembles, such as The Tallis Scholars, while also being involved in church music, first as a member of Westminster Abbey Choir, then Westminster Cathedral. He is a former member of the King's Singers, who have also performed here as Bermuda Festival artists. Tonight's programme will include works spanning the 16th to the 20th centuries, and written by such diverse composers as Thomas Tallis, John Ravenscroft, Sir John Taverner, Philip Moore, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Arthur Sullivan, and Lennon and McCartney.

Tenebrae also performs tomorrow evening at the same venue and time.

For further information/tickets see website www.bermudafestival.org or visit the Festival box office next to the ferry terminal on Front Street between noon and 2 p.m. (296-5774).