After the count of three, 25 young women began a rhythmic drill of footstomps and slaps to either side of the body in “What Happens When a Woman” by Chicago composer Alexandra Olsavska. This gospel-style song about female empowerment immediately gripped the stage. These singers were terrific. Propelled by self-belief, they generated a ton of energy and were clearly enjoying themselves.

Anderson’s choir had stolen the show. Barnaby Smith, VOCES8’s countertenor and artistic director, came to the stage and just said “Wow”.

– Graham Strahle, InDaily

[Timothy] Wayne-Wright worked with four of Adelaide’s best choirs: the Adelaide Chamber Singers and Aurora Vocal Ensemble, both directed by Christie Anderson, ACS2 – a new professional training choir attached to the Adelaide Chamber Singers – directed by Carl Crossin, and the Festival Statesmen Chorus, directed by Jonathan Bligh.

“A cappella singing – without accompaniment – is really the most pure form of the art,” [Wayne-Wright] says. “You are laid bare as a singer.”

– David Washington, InDaily

Aurora, directed by Christie Anderson, is the senior vocal ensemble of the South Australian youth choir Young Adelaide Voices. The choir is no stranger to boundary-pushing works, with a diverse performance record that includes former Adelaide Festival productions, sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones and appearing as guest artists at the Desert Song Festival in Alice Springs. Aurora’s commitment to performing contemporary Australian music means they’re a perfect match for The Pulse.

It’s nail-biting stuff delivered with elegance and it’s a joy to experience.

– Jo Vabolis, InDaily

When the 30-strong Gravity & Other Myths troupe did start performing on stage, minimal lighting meant the audience had to focus intently to make out their movements, but soon their perfectly synchronised – and often gasp-inducing – routines were beautifully spotlit against the backdrop of rising and falling voices of the choral singers moving among them.

The coming together of people and cultures is something to relish in these current times and provided an opening night to remember. It was an especially rare – and special – treat to hear bagpipes, fiddle and yidaki played together.

– Suzie Keen, InDaily