In The Choral, Ralph Fiennes directs a new anti-war oratorio that finds beauty in a season of upheaval. From the opening moments the piece sets up a paradox: a national symbol that once boomed with pride—the national anthem God Save the King—is presented in a way that is at once lovely and slightly unsettling. The anthem's chiding, almost admonitory edge emerges early, signaling the work's tension between patriotic ceremony and the human cost of conflict. Set against the First World War's grim reality, a village English choir becomes the conduit for a quiet, stubborn protest. Their spontaneous rendering after news from the front is both warm and courageous, a reminder that art can bear witness without shouting. Musically, The Choral is accessible yet disciplined, with Fiennes shaping a sound that feels sweet on the tongue but carries an undercurrent of rebellion. The choral textures glow in lush harmonies, while moments of restraint reveal an iron core of conviction. The orchestration supports the singers with gentle momentum, letting the lyrics and the cadence of the phrases drive the emotional arc. The performance builds toward a cathartic but hopeful conclusion: a reminder that in times of war, communal singing can become a form of moral resistance, a way to sustain humanity when the world is at its bleakest. Ralph Fiennes's conducting offers a measured, humane approach: never theatrically loud for its own sake, but decisively clear in its intent, allowing the anti-war message to emerge from the music's sweetness rather than through rhetoric. The Choral stakes are intimate, historical, and poignant, making it a standout in the contemporary choral repertoire. Listeners who cherish choral music, historical drama, and anti-war narratives will find this work resonates long after the final note.