For half a century the six voices of The King’s Singers have set the benchmark for blend and close harmony across a varied repertoire of genres from William Byrd to the Beach Boys. Their “pyramid” of sound – two countertenors and a tenor anchored by a brace of baritones and a bass – has also been synonymous with Christmas with concerts and TV shows both sides of the Atlantic featuring their mix of carols, folks songs and light-hearted takes on schmaltzy “lollipops”.

The King’s Singers. Photo © Frances-Marshall4395

The pandemic locked them out of churches and concert halls – but not the recording studio – and now, perfectly timed for the festive season, they’re back in front of a live audience in London’s magnificent church St Martin-in-the-Fields as part of VOCES8 Foundation’s Live From London Christmas 2021 festival – a series of concerts by leading vocal groups available for on-demand streaming until 15 January.

The two-part concert features traditional folk carols from Europe as well as England, along with “reimagined” ancient songs and Christmas hits, all of which can be found on their newly-released album on the Signum Classics...