A packed, darkened cathedral space illuminated by panels of blue and green light behind the altar set the mood for the emergence of some of the most pure, ethereal vocals I can recall ever having heard in live performance.

Sjaella. Photo © Lara Muller

The six women producing these ravishing sounds comprised the group Sjaella (named for a Scandinavian word meaning ‘soul’) from Leipzig, Germany, here making their premiere Australian appearance in the Festival of Voices program Transcendence. This beautiful introduction was Erico Correggia’s setting of the medieval hymn O Christie, flos convállium. It was followed by Northern Lights by Ola Gjeilo to a text from Song of Solomon. A remarkable set concluded with pieces by Arvo Pärt and Gregor Meyer.

In a slight amendment to the printed program the excellent The Australian Voices led off with their conductor John Rotar’s Painted in Dirt, an atmospheric and spectacular display of vocal pyrotechnics illustrating sounds of the Australian bush. This wonderful choir has been around since 1993 and specialises in commissioning and performing works by Australian composers. The remainder of their first set included pieces by Katherine Anderson and Tomasz Holownia with...