Its world premiere was given by the soprano Mary Bevan, baritone Christopher Maltman, and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic & Choir conducted by James MacMillan at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, on 16 January 2021.
[1] The work is scored for solo soprano and baritone, choir, and an orchestra comprising two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, two percussionists, harp, celesta, and strings.
Reviewing the United Kingdom premiere, Boyd Tonkin of The Arts Desk wrote, "Within its generous, eclectic and impassioned 100 minutes, it packs a seasonal feast of wonderfully rich and accessible music.
"[2] Fiona Maddocks of The Guardian similarly remarked, "The entire composition [...] is riven with short fortissimo outbursts as brutal as the four-part choral writing is at times exquisite and hushed.
The babe-in-manger chorus at the start of Part 2, O magnum mysterium, from the matins for Christmas Day, could stand alone, though this majestic work deserves full performance.