More than 190 singers from Festival Voices, Citizens of the World Choir, London Youth Choirs, London Gay Men’s Chorus, London International Gospel Choir & The Bold Chorus join forces to open our 2024 programme with a monumental celebration of song. Including works by Ethel Smyth, Nina Simone, Vera Lynn, Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman; as well as the World Premiere of Songs of Communion by Kristina Arakelyan, a new commission setting texts by bell hooks and Langston Hughes to music – and ending with a reworking of Mozart’s choral masterpiece, his Requiem in D minor (1791). The Requiem is like no other in Mozart’s entire catalogue; shrouded in mystery, it has captivated musicians and audiences since its first performance.

Redefining choral music for the 21st century, Festival Voices has brought daring remixes of large-scale works to new audiences since 2017. Gregory Batsleer has been the Chorus Director of Huddersfield Choral Society since 2017, and Festival Director for the London Handel Festival since 2021. Renowned for his creative vision, Batsleer received the inaugural 2015 Arts Foundation Fellowship in Choral Conducting.

Specialising in the performance of contemporary music, Oskar McCarthy has commissioned and worked with the UK’s leading opera companies and choirs. McCarthy is county Chorus Manager at Wexford Festival Opera, Producer at the London Handel Festival, and Senior Arts and Culture Programmer at Nozstock Festival.

Doors open 630pm for 730pm performance.

Bold Tendencies
Floors 7 – 10, Peckham Multi-Storey Car Park
95a Rye Lane
London, SE15 4ST