Voyces celebrates Christmas with a world premiere, mixing modern and traditional carols

Perth choir Voyces is at Government House Ballroom this Friday for its final outing of the year, a celebration of Christmas with a mix of modern and traditional carols.

“This is a program of great depth, with modern arrangements of very traditional works in Pèrotin’s Beata Viscera mixed with a work that has been composed specifically for this concert,” Voyces artistic director Robert Braham said.

“We are delighted to again be able to showcase West Australian talent with Brianna Louwen, Alexandra Bak and Jonathan Bradley.”

The new work is Dormi, Jesu! by Victorian composer Lachlan McDonald, who won Voyces’ composition competition, Aspire, and receives a cash prize and a premiere of his work.

Voyces this year asked composers to provide a new setting of a traditional carol, with 2020 the first time the competition has been open to all emerging Australian composers in the first five years of their careers.

Voyces, formed in 2011, aims for the highest quality choral music with an ensemble of auditioned WA singers who have performed commissioned works at festivals in Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria.

Repertoire includes works by Alex Turley and Stefan Pugliese which premiered to sold out audiences, and commissions with established composers Dan Walker and Perry Joyce.

The group has recorded a CD of all Australian choral music, and appeared with Adele, John Butler, and Tim Minchin, among many.

Voyces’ Christmas recital is on Friday at 7.30pm at Government House Ballroom, Perth. Tickets available via voyces.com.