English vocal group VOCES8 is advertising for a new soprano who must be comfortable in styles ranging from Renaissance to Radiohead and who can blend perfectly with seven voices from the top drawer. Oh, and she must be prepared to appear on recordings with the likes of Paul Simon.

VOCES8 at the Sydney Opera House. Photo © Cassandra Hannagan

Fortunately the joint founders of the group, brothers and ex-Westminster Abbey choristers Paul and Barnaby Smith, have set up education programmes and spin-off groups to nurture new talent and in the meantime MaryRuth Miller from San Diego, who is a member of VOCES8 Foundation ensemble Lyyra, is filling in for their 20th anniversary tour.

Judging from this concert in the Utzon Music Series – staged in the Concert Hall rather than the intimate Utzon Room to accommodate their legions of fans – bringing in Miller to fill the hole left by the departure of Molly Noon has gone smoothly. Over the two hours of wide-ranging material the vocal mix was as slick, precise and glorious as ever with soprano Andrea Haines’ pure...