Rose Ever Blooming is a new Christmas oratorio by composers Jocelyn Hagen and Timothy C. Takach that honours the role of Mary in the story of Jesus, celebrating the strength of family and the enduring bond between mother and son. Inspired by the poetry of Patricia Monaghan, the work interweaves twelve of her poems with traditional carols, illuminating Mary’s humanity and portraying her as a reluctant hero reflecting on her life from the Annunciation to her own Beatitudes. Conducted by Barnaby Smith and performed by the VOCES8 Foundation Choir & Orchestra, this beautifully crafted work explores the divine and the everyday through a profoundly human lens. The performance was filmed at the recording sessions at St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, capturing the warmth and spiritual intimacy of this remarkable new addition to the Christmas repertoire.

Performers
VOCES8 Foundation Choir & Orchesta
Barnaby Smith conductor