The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
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Top hats and heavenly voices
The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge returns to put the glorious sound of the British choral tradition in dialogue with the oldest culture on earth. Hear soaring hymns and mighty anthems alongside a new work from Australian composer Damian Barbeler inspired by the questing writings of Judith Nangala Crispin.
Every year on Christmas Eve listeners around the world tune in to hear The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge celebrate the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in a glorious display of the British choral tradition. Now this unique and precious sound returns to Australia.
The Choir will perform soaring anthems and sacred works alongside two touchstones of the choral repertoire: Stravinsky’s Mass for choir and double wind quintet (ten of Australia’s best instrumentalists); and Maurice Duruflé’s magnificent Requiem, a radiant meditation on life and death for choir and organ.
It’s not all top hats and heavenly voices: just as boys grow up and voices change, the Choir’s work evolves across the generations. Which is why Daniel Hyde, Director since 2019, asked us what The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge might learn from us. Integral to their performance is a new work commissioned from Australian composer Damian Barbeler, working with a text by Judith Nangala Crispin (a descendant of the Bpangerang people), which weaves a new tapestry from the threads of history.
"Where did you go girl, with your made-up history, your ever whiter babies?” I say to her – Charlotte, Grandmother of my Grandfather, I am Judith, and these are my scars. "
"...the choir has been re-energised by its current director Daniel Hyde, who is unafraid to take the nearly 500-year-old choir in new directions."
"The combination of the majestic organ and harmonic voices was ethereal, inducing an ancient sense of recognition and heritage."
Listen to the music before you witness The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge live.
DANIEL HYDE director of music |
Program 1: Sydney (Sydney Opera House), Perth (Perth Concert Hall), Brisbane (QPAC), Adelaide (Adelaide Town Hall). Program 2: Sydney (City Recital Hall), Melbourne (Hamer Hall & Melbourne Recital Centre) Canberra (Llewellyn Hall) |
Damian Barbeler Damian Barbeler is an Australian composer and multimedia artist whose works have been performed and broadcast around the world. He is recognised for his lush, emotional creations inspired by the natural environment. His work frequently explores our personal relationship and connection to the landscape, through an awakening to elements of texture, light, and colour. He often hikes and travels in the bush for inspiration. Damian regularly collaborates with colleagues from diverse fields including film, architecture, media arts, and dance, and often incorporates his own visual, sculptural and lighting elements in musical projects. The new work with music by Damian Barbeler and words by Judith Nangala Crispin is commissioned for Musica Viva Australia by Richard Wilkins and will be premiered by The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge on our national tour. |
Judith Nangala Crispin Judith Nangala Crispin is a Canberra-based poet and visual artist, with a background in music. She has published two collections of poetry, and a book of images and poems made while living with the Warlpiri people. She is a member of Oculi photographic collective and was Musica Viva Australia’s Artist in Residence from 2021. Her work includes themes of displacement and identity loss, a reflection on her own lost Aboriginal ancestry, but primarily it is centred on the concept of connection with Country. She traces her ancestry to the Bpangerang people of North-Eastern Victoria and the NSW Riverina; and to Ghana, the Ivory Coast, France, Ireland and Scotland. |
With special thanks to Ensemble Patrons Ian Dickson AM and Reg Holloway for their support of this tour. |
View or download the program guide by pressing this button below 
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Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Photo credit: James Grant
Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
| Melbourne, Hamer Hall | 21 July 5pm |
| Melbourne, Melbourne Recital Centre | 23 July 7pm |
| Brisbane, QPAC | 25 July 7pm |
| Sydney, City Recital Hall | 28 July 5pm |
| Sydney, Sydney Opera House | 29 July 7pm |
| Adelaide | 31 July 7:30pm |
| Adelaide | 1 Aug 1pm |
| Canberra | 3 Aug 7pm |
| Perth | 5 Aug 7:30pm |
Location
Multiple Venues
Please check the venue in your city when booking tickets.
Event notes
Concert Duration
The concert has an approximate duration of 105 minutes (including interval).
Venue Information
Read more about the venues here.
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