The Giovanni Consort will perform Christmas music reimagined and given new life by West Australian composers Perry Joyce, Lydia Gardiner, and Joshua Adams in their Christmas concert at St Mary’s Cathedral Perth. Artistic Director Hugh Lydon tells Limelight about a celebration of Christmas choral singing that spans nostalgia to new music.

The Giovanni Consort. Photo supplied

How did the idea for this reimagining of Christmas music come together?

Our General Manager, Alessandro Pittorino, approached me in the middle of this year, shortly after we had exited lockdown in Western Australia. We had been forced to cancel our annual concert season, but performing arts organisations were beginning to stage live performances again. Alessandro had identified that some of our regular singers are also very accomplished composers, so the idea of presenting a Christmas concert of their pieces seemed like the ideal way to showcase the level of choral music that can be found in this state. We are so lucky to be able to perform live in WA, so we have a duty to not only acknowledge our musicians, but also our composers.

What inspired you to commission the three composers, Perry Joyce, Lydia Gardiner, and Joshua Adams?

Perry, Lydia and Josh are all...