The Sun has Burst the Sky

As the seasons shift and dusk deepens into darkness, The Sun Has Burst the Sky draws inspiration from the autumn equinox, offering a transformative journey through five centuries of vocal music.

The performance is inspired by the way the natural light hits the building as dusk gives way to darkness and will take Arvo Pärt’s Nunc Dimittis as its centrepiece, alongside music by Claudio Monteverdi, John Sheppard and brand new work. Audiences will be enveloped in sound as Echo’s nine “sparkling, poised and powerful” voices bring the chapel’s iconic architecture to life.

The programme spans Renaissance polyphony, contemporary choral works, improvisation, and folk-inspired pieces, each selected to explore the interplay between shadow and illumination, quiet and clarity. The concert also contains two brand new commissions by emerging talents Bel Comeau and Sarah Dacey. Bel is an organist and composer influenced by classical, jazz and contemporary music, while Sarah is a soprano and composer with an interest in the theatrical power of the voice.

Join Echo Vocal Ensemble for an evening where ancient and modern voices converge; a sonic ritual marking the turning of the year, in one of London’s most atmospheric venues. Described as "sublime, spirited…completely assured" (The Arts Desk), Echo Vocal Ensemble is an adventurous group of singers known for their flexibility, innovation and excellence. The group has performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, at Sadler’s Wells, as Ensemble-in-Residence at Ryedale Festival and live on BBC Radio 3.