"Cantus immediately displayed poise and polish in its centuries-spanning first set, which included Pérotin's Sederunt (circa 1200), Renaissance-era Tomás Luis de Victoria's O vos omnes, and twentieth-century American composer Randall Thompson's Alleluia. From lively to solemn, these three polyphonic works complemented each other and the men's voices, which moved fluidly together with forward motion through the varying textures, dynamics, and rhythms."

"'On the Shoulders of Giants' was a polished and rewarding program to hear.... there’s no weak link in the group." Read More...

"With 21 selections, they cover a great deal of territory. But what Cantus really excels at is the sequencing of the pieces. They gain meaning through their juxtaposition.... Throughout this formal section of the program, the men are stylistically and technically assured. But they still sing with passion and exuberance."

"Here’s another prime album from Cantus, my all-time favorite male-sonority mini-choir (nine accomplished voices).... I was totally bowled over, as usual, by their luscious sonorities, technical perfection, and imaginative choice of repertoire." Read More...

"Listening to Cantus, you understand that there's something about a group of people singing that touches listeners on a very human level."

"This raw and aching beauty defines 'All Is Calm.' Rothstein's decision to let the men speak for themselves seems wiser than ever, for these words assume a sacred quality. They carry the hopes and the amazement of young men terrorized by war and then healed by a moment of mysterious mercy. In this, 'All Is Calm' becomes a small, still litany, taking details of history and transforming them into something far greater -- a myth that manifests the highest ideals of humanity." Read More...

"It's a modern American update of England's 'Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols' with songs, poetry and prose that adhere to the themes of each lesson. And it's one of the most rewarding things that Cantus has ever created."

"Writer Peter Rothstein learned about this unheard of Christmas truce and, working with the members and directors of Cantus, put together a riveting musical and spoken performance titled 'All Is Calm.'

"Last Friday night, Cantus held a Napa Valley Opera House audience spellbound as the details of this remarkable calm in the trenches were laid out."

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"Intellectually, emotionally and musically rich, this is the kind of program that expands the heart and imparts a richer sense of what it means to be human." Read More...

"There was beauty to be found throughout the group's season-opening performance at Minneapolis' Cowles Center on Thursday, Oct. 25, as songs of war both triumphant and mournful segued into peaceful contemplations of the great beyond."

"Listening to these favorites of the men of Cantus — from a twelfth century polyphonal maze to U2 — it's clear that the ensemble appreciates Newton's insight. And though On the Shoulders of Giants is not an exercise in tracing influence down the ages, the drama of each performance is richer for the deft juxtaposition of lament and love song, protest and delirious prayer."

"And judging from the group's performance at St. Paul's Sundin Music Hall on Saturday, March 17, it just might be the best thing the ensemble has ever created - not just because the program spins such a powerful story but because the nonet's voices have never seemed so full of purpose, their hearts so unified in expressing one idea." Read More...

"Artists often talk about the power of art to change lives. This music was art that changed nations. Cantus performed it with seriousness -- and joy. Much hope is to be found in it." Read More...

"This evening was not just about music or talent. I got the distinct feeling that these men felt called to the mission of music." Read More...

"In our view, this 90-minute timeout was a dose of healing elixir. Tears flowed, people laughed and the thunderous applause brought the group back for an encore." Read More...

"... a CD that seems destined to become a perennial holiday favorite."

"For those who like music arranged for vocal ensemble, the nine virtuoso male singers on 'Christmas with Cantus' (Cantus Recordings) deliver an international feast for the ears." Read More...

"The program-a collaboration between Theater Latté Da, Hennepin Theatre Trust, and the male ensemble Cantus, who provide the stunning and almost ceaseless vocals-is not quite a play, but more like a vocal retelling of history.

"Because of the show's sheer beauty we are left with this imperfect, but not all together unsatisfactory, answer to the soldier's question. The story of the Christmas truce teaches us that at our best we are capable of laying down our guns and lifting our voices as one."

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"All Is Calm first premiered in 2007, and the Hennepin Theater Trust continues to stage the show each year at Christmas time to remind audiences of one of the most magical Christmas tales of all. It is a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle of the corporatized holiday season, reminding us all that sometimes the best gives we receive are the simplest ones." Read More...

"This is a true ensemble show, and each performer fully carried his weight. But greatest credit must go to Rothstein and musical arrangers Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach, whose music and story seamlessly intertwined."

"If the male singing group Cantus didn't book itself so solid during the holiday season, it probably could double the number of its annual 'Christmas with Cantus' concerts and still sell them out. It's a tough ticket to get, but Friday morning's first performance at Minneapolis' Westminster Presbyterian Church demonstrated that it's one well worth seeking."
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"But especially thanks to the nine men of Cantus, whose harmonies are the heart and spirit of this work. It is they who vividly convey the combination of excitement and fear as soldiers answer the call to arms, their sadness as death tolls mount, and the hope and wonder as the truce ensues. The stories are strong, but it's the music that makes "All Is Calm" such a touching experience." Read More...

"Channeled through the impeccably layered vocals of chamber ensemble Cantus, songs combine with stories in paying solemn tribute to a universal humanity indivisible by dogmatic ideologies and national identities. In these ever combative times, such unbroken harmony represents nothing less than a genuine yuletide miracle."

"Cantus, a nine-voice men's ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, brings to mind Chanticleer, the ubiquitous Bay Area ensemble, but this group sings with more muscle." Read More...

"The nine-man vocal group's facility with a variety of styles and languages is astounding, but its concerts are so disarmingly intimate that the group penetrates your soul with harmony."

"The impossibly rich, warm tapestry of vocals of Cantus make this holiday music release a real treat."

"Here's an early Christmas treat from the always entertaining Minneapolis-based men's ensemble Cantus, whose nine voices are always impeccably tuned, scrupulously balanced, perfectly blended, and artfully expressive. And the group, which performs without a conductor, never fails to convey a collective joy and spirit in every piece they sing."

"Chris Foss' arrangement was a clever condensation of what the whole program was about: showing off what Cantus can do in a wide variety of styles." Read More...

"But Cantus is about more than stylistic accuracy. Their performances speak to the soul." Read More...

"The most striking thing about the nine-voice male a cappella group Cantus is how much heart they put into their singing.... Judging from their presentation here, the gentlemen of Cantus know themselves well and value the relative greatness of the whole." Read More...