A cappella group The Swingles will be giving a concert this evening at Pjazza Tejatru Rjal in Valletta.

Orginally based in France and founded by American Ward Swingle, the group traditonally sings a cappella with two sopranos, two altos, two tenors and two basses. They perform covers ranging from pop songs (Björk, Annie Lennox and the Beatles) to classical music (Bach, Mozart) to contemporary music (Luciano Berio, Pascal Zavaro and Azio Corghi). Their arrangements are often infused with jazz harmonies and stylings.

For more than half a century, The Swingles have pushed the boundaries of vocal music. The seven young singers that make up today’s London-based group are driven by the same innovative spirit that has defined the five-time Grammy winners since they first made waves in the 1960s.

At a time when a cappella music is more popular than ever, The Swingles are recognised as masters of their craft. Over the years the group’s versatility has led to collaborations with artists as diverse as the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jamie Cullum and Labrinth. Luciano Berio was one of the first composers to explore the sound of The Swingles’ amplified voices in an orchestral setting with his groundbreaking Sinfonia.

In addition to a busy touring schedule that regularly takes them to North and South America, Europe and Asia, The Swingles present their own London A Cappella Festival at Kings Place every January. The festival is the first of its kind in the capital, welcoming the finest vocal talent from around the world.

The Swingles in Concert will be held today at 8.30pm at Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta. For tickets, visit www.culture.gov.mt.