The British vocal ensemble Papagena and harpist Victoria Davies present a program titled A Winter's Dawn, featuring a collection of winter songs and carols.
Papagena was established to explore the rich array of music specifically composed for women's voices. With no props, microphones, or gimmicks, the group showcases five stunning voices: Imogen Russell, Lizzie Drury, Suzzie Vango, Shivani Rattan, and Sarah Tenant-Flowers. Papagena seamlessly blends classical repertoire with traditional folk, medieval, and contemporary music, creating performances that span nine centuries. They draw inspiration from a diverse range of composers, including the 12th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen, Joni Mitchell, hymns, lullabies, and more, producing original content and new arrangements. The group has toured extensively across England, performing at music festivals and various other occasions. Papagena has released two albums, with their latest, Hush!, launched in spring 2020, and their earlier album, The Darkest Midnight, reaching the top of the Amazon download charts.
Victoria Davies is a renowned solo, chamber, and orchestral harpist. She has performed in the UK, Thailand, and the Netherlands, touring Europe and Southeast Asia with orchestras and her own chamber ensembles. Victoria studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London under Skaila Kanga and also attended the University of Oxford and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Erika Waardenburg.