Joby Talbot
Path of Miracles
Tenebrae
Nigel Short
Introduced from the stage by Sarah Walker
Reviewed by: Nick Breckenfield
Reviewed: 9 August, 2026
Venue: St George’s, Bristol
As Nigel Short explained in his short chat with Sarah Walker from the stage, Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles was the first work his choir Tenebrae – now celebrating its quarter century – commissioned, back in 2005. It was explicitly designed for the choir to be mobile throughout the performance, which concentrates on four stops on the Camino way, followed for centuries by pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostella: Roncesvalles, Burgos, León and, finally, Santiago.
Using seven languages, skilfully interweaved through all four sections, the opening starts in the lowest depths of the bass cohort, with the men standing in a ring on stage. Slowly rising in pitch, suddenly the sopranos and altos ring out from the back of the hall (those who were sitting there were offered earplugs, which I perhaps unwisely passed on), before processing up both aisles. Here one member of the choir punctuated the vocal line with ringing crotales. Eventually a rocking rhythm is introduced which seems to infuse the whole work. Though the text was only available online, and even then, not translated, it was the surround sound effect of various cohorts of singers leaving the stage and moving to stations around the hall, and Talbot’s intricate way of intertwining his vocal lines that constantly engaged the mind: trying to follow the text would make you miss so much.
Ultimately, after the long journey, it is the joyous repetition of the word Santiago that brings the hour-or-so long work to a satisfying close. The weather played its part at this performance, as St George’s was extremely hot (which resulted in at least one casualty), bringing a touch of the real pilgrim’s way, though without any al fresco breeze and probably more oppressive humidity. The audience received it ecstatically and it’s good to report that the present members of Tenebrae (I’m assuming, apart from Short himself, there are few, if any, of the original members who sang the première, which I reviewed, in July 2005 – here: https://www.classicalsource.com/concert/joby-talbot-path-of-miracles/ ) are the equal of their forbears.
A notable Proms première, and a suitable 25th anniversary celebration of Tenebrae itself.