VOCES8 invites you to savour the sounds of the season in a programme that journeys from ancient carols and chant to contemporary reflections and festive favourites. From Praetorius and Poston to Rutter and Reena Esmail, this is winter storytelling at its most atmospheric—glowing with warmth, tenderness, and joyful cheer.
Bringing the curtain down on their twentieth anniversary year, Grammy-nominated VOCES8 presents a heartwarming winter concert filled with choral treasures old and new. This beautifully curated programme takes audiences on a seasonal journey, weaving together ancient melodies, contemporary reflections and festive favourites that sparkle with nostalgia and joy.
The concert opens in contemplative mood with Angelus ad Virginem and the anonymous There is no Rose, followed by radiant music by living composers including Reena Esmail, Kerensa Briggs and Howard Skempton. Historic gems include Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen by Michael Praetorius and the Magnificat Quinti Toni by Hieronymus Praetorius, while Elizabeth Poston’s Jesus Christ the Apple Tree and Robert Lucas Pearsall’s arrangement of In Dulci Jubilo evoke the familiar glow of Christmases past.
A final flourish of seasonal favourites—including Silver Bells and Let it Snow—adds a playful sparkle to this uplifting evening. Whether you’re drawn to the quiet intimacy of Scandinavian carol Mitt hjerte alltid vanker or the festive warmth of Rutter’s Joseph and Mary, this concert offers a winter soundtrack rich in atmosphere, colour and joy.