A fine harpist and the voices of angels brought a devoted and highly appreciative audience to one of Melbourne’s finest acoustic spaces, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Middle Park, to hear the Australian Chamber Choir. During the last three years, the ACC became the ACC8, managing to survive and continue to perform while embracing the limitations of reduced ranks and livestreamed performances. This event was a major rebirth and an exciting return to the full sound of an 18-voice ensemble, which under the musical direction of the charismatic Douglas Lawrence presented an exhilarating and soul-touching performance in a perfectly curated program.

Australian Chamber Choir. Photo © Dianna Wells.

There was a great sense of excitement and anticipation when harpist Melina van Leeuwen heralded Britten’s Ceremony of Carols with majestic opening chords. Ten female choristers entered in procession with Hodie Christus natus est, singing with ease and grace, confident, gentle and affective. Vibrant harp chords accentuated the rhythms of Wolcum. Highly commendable were the changes in dynamics and timbres,...