Skylark Vocal Ensemble’s A Christmas Carol represents the culmination of nearly a decade of innovative storytelling concerts that began in 2016. The original concept for this musical interpretation of A Christmas Carol was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and first recorded in 2021. Working from Dickens’s original 30,000-word manuscript, Artistic Director Matthew Guard carefully abridged the text to preserve its dramatic essence while creating space for musical interludes. Composer Benedict Sheehan crafted an original score that functions as a “choral movie score,” seamlessly integrating beloved Christmas carols with newly composed musical bridges. The result is a continuous 70-minute concert work that combines elements of classical performance, storytelling, and theatrical presentation. Skylark’s new recording, their second of this work, features narration by acclaimed actor Christine Baranski.