As we near the big day, take a moment to listen to the brilliant sound of George Frideric Handel's 'All We Like Sheep' performed by the VOCES8 Foundation Choir and the Baroque Orchestra conducted by Barnaby Smith. This recording is part of 'Live from London Christmas 2023', a series of streamed concerts of an assortment of festival choral works running until 7 January.

This chorus appears in Part 2 of Handel's epic three-part oratorio The Messiah. The work itself is not particulary Christmas-related - whilst it does cover the birth of Christ in Part 1, Parts 2 and 3 detail the crucifixtion and subsequent ascension. It wasn't even originally performed at Christmas - both it's Dublin and London premiers were in April! But with the immense popularity of movements such as the 'Hallelujah Chorus', 'Ev'ry Valley', 'I Know My Redeemer Liveth' and 'All We Like Sheep', The Messiah has been a staple work in choirs' Christmas repertoire for the past 250 years.

Live from London Christmas 2023 runs until 7 January. You can find more information here. You can hear more Festivities from VOCES8 from their album 'A Choral Christmas' below via Apple Music.​