American composer Eric Whitacre set aside his synthesiser and planned to become a rock star as a student and concentrated on choral music after a “Technicolor moment” at his first choir rehearsal.

But for his latest Australian tour with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs featuring the Australian premiere of his new work, Eternity In An Hour, a large table with a massive array of synths and electronic wizardry is wheeled on stage to join Tim Cunniffe’s Steinway grand and Julian Smiles’ cello – both instruments wired up to the mobile mixing desk – for the second half of the concert.

Sydney Philharmonia Choirs: Eternity in an Hour with Eric Whitacre. Photo © Keith Saunders

There are clues that this isn’t going to be your run-of-the-mill choral concert when the 116 members of VOX Choir file on stage carrying handbells.

After Deborah Cheetham Fraillon and Matthew Doyle’s customary acknowledgment of country, Tarimi Nulay – Long time living here – even more haunting and beautiful than ever in this performance – Whitacre walks on to a tumultuous welcome.

He starts the program with what can be considered his signature tune, Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold), which catapulted...