To open New Sounds 2026, New Voices Consort and their director Dr Nathan James Dearden perform David Lang's indescribably powerful, Pulitzer-winning work the little match girl passion. 

Lang's choral work tells one of the darkest, most deeply human stories of hope and suffering ever put to paper. Taking Hans Christian Andersen's bleak fairytale, and fusing it with Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Lang creates a wrenching expression of empathy, and a reminder that every life matters, and every act of kindness is an act of grace. This is not to be missed. 

This event is presented as part of the New Sounds Festival 2026, in partnership with the International Concert Series 2025-26 - VOX HUMANA - at Royal Holloway and the Midweek Music series. For further event information and to watch live, please visit this dedicated page: www.chapelchoir.co.uk 

About the performers

Described as “a champion of his generation” and whose music is “hauntingly beautiful’ (Media Wales), Nathan James Dearden is an award-winning Welsh composer, conductor, and educator. A champion for bringing audiences and communities diverse and exciting programming, Nathan is also a sought-after conductor, arts advisor, event curator and educator. He is currently Lecturer in Music Composition and Music Performance Manager at Royal Holloway University of London, Conductor of the New Voices Consort and New Music Collective, and holds arts advisory roles with several international organisations. Read more. 

Admission is free but booking is required.