Exuberance, power and raw energy marked the start of Sydney Chamber Choir’s 2024 season with Artistic Director Sam Allchurch conducting a tightly-performed program culminating in a triumphant assault on the Himalayan heights of Mozart’s Requiem, superbly accompanied by the 22-strong Muffat Collective Orchestra led by violinist Matthew Greco.

But before that work took out the second half, we were treated to some impressive peaks in the foothills with three glorious works to start the evening off.

Sam Allchurch conducts Sydney Chamber Choir and The Muffat Collective Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem. Photo © Robert Catto

The 27 voices of the SCC divided for J.S. Bach’s jubilant motet Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Sing to the Lord a new song), with breath control, intonation and precision all put to the test in the opening section in which lines and phrases are joyfully tossed from one side to the other with Anthony Abouhamad’s chamber organ lending support.

The welcome calm of the second part, the text of Psalm 149 set as a 16th Century Lutheran hymn, highlighted the choir’s beautiful tonal blend, before the bubbly, challenging final alleluias.

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