Brisbane’s magnificent St John’s Cathedral played host to an evening of musical transcendence over the weekend, courtesy of One Equal Music (OEM), Brisbane’s new professional vocal ensemble, led by conductor Tomasz Holownia and co-directed by gifted alto anchor Eleanor Adeney.

The program, French Masterpieces, showcased a collection of enchanting compositions by renowned French composers, and promised an evening of musical sublimity and emotional resonance.

From the moment the first note reverberated, it was clear that the star of this program was the music itself, a focus that persisted throughout the performance. The flawless and warm voices of OEM emerged without fanfare from the back of the cathedral concert singing Charles Gounod’s Ave Verum Corpus, embracing the audience within the cathedral’s very soul. As OEM unfurled its pure and hypnotic tones, an almost magical ambiance enveloped the listeners. With eyes closed, some in the audience surrendered to the sheer beauty of the music as it flowed around them.

Tomasz Holownia conducts One Equal Music at St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane. Photo supplied.

Gounod’s opening piece set the tone for an evening where the ensemble’s unity and devotion to the music took centre stage. While...