© Lisa Kohler

For almost 130 years, Oberlin College has been hosting its renowned Artist Recital Series, one of the oldest continuing concert series in America. Launching the 2007-08 season in style is Grammy award-winning Chanticleer, the world’s leading men’s chorus. Ranked as one of Billboard magazine’s top 10 best-selling classical groups, the Chanticleer “orchestra of voices” is known for its brilliant sound and its vast repertoire, from Gregorian chants to jazz, gospel, and pop.

The 12-member ensemble, which includes Oberlin alumnus Todd Wedge ’03, presents “My Spirit Sang All Day”—highlighting early works by Byrd and Palestrina; romantic music by Poulenc, Barber, and Mahler; newly commissioned works; and exquisite arrangements of folk songs, spirituals, and familiar gems—in Finney Chapel on Wednesday, October 3, at 8 p.m.

Called “acoustically wonderful” by critic Charles Michener of the New York Observer, Finney Chapel is wheelchair accessible and is located on the southwest corner of Lorain St. (Route 511) and N. Professor St., across from Tappan Square.

Chanticleer has developed a remarkable reputation and earned international acclaim for its vivid interpretations of vocal literature, from Renaissance to jazz and from gospel to venturesome new music. The Boston Globe has praised Chanticleer for singing that “is breathtaking in its accuracy of intonation, purity of blend, variety of color, and swagger of style.”

Named for the “clear-singing” rooster in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor Louis Botto, who sang with the group until 1989 and served as artistic director until his death in 1997. Music Director Joseph Jennings joined the ensemble as a countertenor in 1983, and shortly thereafter became music director. The ensemble has recorded for Warner Classics since 1994.

Reserved-seat tickets for Chanticleer are $7 for students; $16 for seniors and those with an Oberlin College I.D., and $20 for the general public. Tickets purchased the night of the performance are an additional $3. Please call Oberlin’s Central Ticket Service at 440-775-8169 or 800-371-0178 to order. The CTS box office is located in the lobby of Hall Auditorium, 67 N. Main St. (Route 58), between the Oberlin Inn and the Allen Memorial Art Museum. Box office hours are noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and select Saturdays.

Detailed information about performers, dates, and times for the 2007-08 Artist Recital Series is available online at www.oberlin.edu/arseries.

Concert artists, programs, and dates are subject to change.