Libera - Carol of The Bells: Vocal Coach Reacts 

“The innocence and purity of little boys voices…” Yes, so truly angelic. I think there’s something special about having a limited number of years, and then the voices change.

Libera is life. They’ve been my winter soundtrack for the past 10 years or so, ever since I watched their version of O Holy Night.

What you hear is the genius of Libera’s (now sadly late) director Robert Prizeman. You could roll the clock back a decade and this song sounds almost exactly the same with a completely different group of boys. Love that you pointed out Neo’s solo part toward the end (Oliver W-R did the next part) because I don’t think people realise how difficult that is to do and get right, but these lads ace it. But if you listen to an earlier generation a boy called Thomas Delgado-Little (2011-2015) used to sing that part and he had what many Libera fans will tell you is THE most crystalline clear first treble voice, and what Rob himself called an “Extraordinary range”. A high C is a benchmark for trebles, but Tom easily went higher. Pop his name in the search engine and you’ll find some stunning performances with Libera, like Benedictus Deus, and Voca Me and Schubert’s Ave Maria at the Basilica NSIC in Washington D.C being arguably his finest. Then you may discover so many other amazing kids that have graced this choral group going back over 30 years. Special mention for top soloists Liam O’Kane, Steven Geraghty who is now conductor & co-director, Ben Crawley, Josh Madine who still writes, coaches and plays piano for them, Ed Day, Tom Cully, Ben Philipp, Stefan Leadbeater, Isaac London, and more recently Dominik Clarke, Luca Brugnoli, and Freddie Mushrafi. My personal favourites are Isaac London, the aforementioned Tom D.L and currently Freddie Mushrafi who has an absolutely STUNNING alto/countertenor voice, but can still sing first treble (his range probably even tops TDL now). Their top Libera performances are all here on RU-vid for you to enjoy. Libera is a rolling treasure trove of vocal excellence!

Libera's "Carol of the Bells" is an excellent example of how a good arrangement can lift a song. The Latin interjections and short solos that Robert Prizeman added in give some extra dramatic contrast to a song that can easily end up sounding monotonous and machine-like.

Can I say I live for your reactions? You are literally the best.

The boy at 6:06 who u thought was cute is Cassius Collard. Unfortunately, he’s not in the group anymore. But there r other exclusive Libera soloists, such as Isaac London, Luca Brugnoli, (the boy at the beginning), Freddie Mushrafi and Thomas Delgado-Little (he’s not in the group anymore.) I recommend reacting to more Libera! Btw, another reason the boys didn’t say their r’s was because they’re British.

I get the goosebumps every time I hear this song, I could listen to these angelic voices all day! ❤

They sound as amazing live as they do in recordings. I love Libera!

LIBERA🎼🥰🎶 They are truly the Best in the World!! No other choir can surpass them! Cheers!😇

This must be the closest to what angels sound like…wow!

This is absolutely astounding! I’ve gotta check them out!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS THANK YOU SO MUCH TARA I NEEDED THIS REACTION RIGHT NOW ♡

Libera has been a favorite of mine for many years! This carol and also their O Holy Night are just gorgeous! Thank you for highlighting them! Your version is also beautiful!

My favorite vocal coach, reacting to great singers, doing amazing tutorials, and just make my day everyday! Thank you for your beautiful heart, and for being such a fantastic person that you are! ❤ Love you Tara. God bless you. 🙏 ❤

Whoever took the liberty to add the bridge-like segments which start at 0:40 did a great job. Not only does both the melody and harmony fit in perfectly, it was made to sound like a temporary meter change when it really wasn't. I love musical perfection that can't be improved upon. Anyone else might have tried to do something clever like that and ruined it. This one works.

the biggest surprise is that almost no one else does reactions to libera

I've been a Libera fan for going on two decades now, and have been wondering when the reaction videos would finally discover them. Glad to see you found them! They have a ton of great videos with superb vocal arrangements and that distinct "Libera sound". Yes, they're my Christmas soundtrack, but their work goes way beyond Christmas carols. I'd love to see a critique of "Going Home" from their Leiden concert. It has extensive solo parts by three of the boys, so there's more room to react to individuals rather than the entire choir. And it's a live performance, which is always better for reaction purposes. Different set of boys, since it's from an older concert, but it's the same spectacular sound!

Це дуже добре, що згадали Леонтовича, світла йому пам'ять

Incredible soooo beautiful. I picture the Heavenly Hosts sounding like this

Omgggg the little “ding dong ding dong” was the cutest thing ever 😭💙💙💙💙💙

So beautiful

Such a stunning version

Love Libera. LOVE that song. I'm not at all musical, but that version sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes. That is, oddly, a compliment. It's one week away from Summer Solstice as I write and I 'have' to stop by and listen to Carol of the Bells, regardless. That's how much I love the song, and the singers. Can I say love any more? ;) And as I'm here, might I recommend listening to Lullabye also by Libera (offical video, as opposed to live). Also, listen to Drakensburg Boys Choir. Highly recommend them too.

My conductor/teacher used to say that a choir is anything BUT a group of soloists. All voices should sound like one big instrument, and Libera does it so elegantly.

Great detail and explanation of the art of the choir. Would love to see you react to "Ave Verum" by Libera.

"Voca me" is also one of their best song, it's a pleasure to see your reaction..

Love the Reindeer 🦌

You need to react to Freddie Mushrafi with Libera doing Ave Verim Corpus. Its HAUNTING.

Yes pls react to more Libera songs 🙏

more libera please!! 😬😬

Taraaa I love how geeky u are ❤

Please react to “Whitney Houston 1994 American Music Award Performance” ❤️❤️❤️❤️ love your page

Boses bellas angelicales a lo q ban van libera 😇😇🙏

Ave Verum in G minor by Libera featuring Freddy M would be an awesome video to react to!

I came across Libera from the show Songs of Praise. Whoever their director is is amazing and the kids are very talented

I really wanted to be a part of a chorale and sing songs like this back when I was a child. Sadly, I'm a late bloomer when it comes to singing.

This reminds me of beat iful chamber music. Awesome arrangement!

Love this video!!!💖

Nice. Merry Christmas to you, Tara. Greetings from Sweden. 👍👍👍🇸🇪😎💕

Libera always deliver on this carol. Check out this version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-I6x-pjVL67A.htmlsi=v8Bpw3lLQVbCmbUm - it was performed as part of their Christmas in Ireland live concert recording back in 2013. This was back when Libera had an absolute embarrassment of riches when it came to top quality soloists, and right at the end, you’ll see two of them singing a descant before the closing line. The boy to the right who sings the descant first (Thomas Delgado-Little) was especially a celebrated standout soloist with a range not matched before or since.

So so beautiful 🥰👏👏👏👏angels singing 🙏

Great reaction! Also, did you know that the original Ukrainian folk song "Schedryk" was later translated into English and became very popular in America?🙂

I can't read your shirt with the mic in the way. Does it say 'butts?'

Please react to: Pentatonix - Christmas In Our Hearts (Official Video) ft. Lea Salonga

luckily im australian, R's dont exsist here

Tbh the main reason I feel like they aren't enunciating there r's is because they're British 🤷

Can you please React to Libera - Sanctus 😇

Please please please react to Fujii Kaze singing Shinunoga E'Wa live !!!!!

ori and the blind forest vibes when it came to the solos

I could sing like that until I was about 13 or 14 years old. I took piano and singing lessons from the same elderly lady, and a few of the songs I would sing with her were Tammy; Hi Lily, Hi Lo; Getting to Know You; and Christopher Robin Is Saying His Prayers. Of course, I sang other songs also, away from the lessons, such as If I Loved You, and folk songs, and the 1962 tragic romance hit, Patches. Then my voice changed and I joined choir in school, and it took a couple of years for my (different) range to come back. By the way, a 13-year-old girl, *Carmela Lorzano* , just won the Filipino singing contest *Sing Galing* last weekend, and gave one of the best performances I've heard on a singing competition show in the finale, a mind blowing version of *You're My World* . Perhaps you could react to it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-X8UvcosKp3k.html

You're correct about the "r" sounds, but just to say that the singers are less likely to roll their r's as they're British.

Love it!

*CAROL OF THE BELLS (ЩЕДРІК) / LIBERA* ( Leontovych Mykola Dmytrovych / Peter J. Wilhousky ) Original Publisher lost, UKR, УААСП / Carl Fischer Inc., ASCAP +tarasimonstudio *Maestro Prizeman trained this choir well!* Too bad that a rendition in Medieval English of: *CHOR: FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BOR’N, HWV 56 Nr. 12 - "MESSIAH: AN ORATORIO, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY PERFORM’D, &c." / Orchestra & Choir TBD* ( Georg-Friedrich Händel / Charles Jennens; based on Isaiah 9:6 (AV1611) ) Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Geſellſchaft eV, BIEM / Händel Soc. of Great-Britain, MCPS-PRS Originally published 1741 by John Preston (MCPS-PRS), 9 Banbury Court, Long Acre, London, GBR. isn't recorded.

I hope you react to Lea Salonga's new song with Pentatonix too " Christmas in our hearts" 😍

Here's another beautiful Libera performance, Ave Verum/Adagio in G Minor ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CprYUY9RQ_0.html

please react to forestella’s cover of hijo de la luna! 💕

❤❤❤

Tara can you react to Santa can't you hear me by Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande

You to listen to Tom Cully he has been one of libera best voice

my sinus clears up

А почему вы не слушаете Либеру 1998 - 2005,2010 год, 2018 год

Please please please react to the Tauren Wells duet of O Holy Night

This is their original 2011 version of this song (different singers of course), which I think is even a bit better overall. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YVGKfDoANRA.html

Please react to "To be loved" live by Adele

Could you react to Sleep by Voces8! Would love to see that :)

they are probably all pre-pubescent that is why their voices all are so high.

You should react to lonely live version of justin.

I wonder how this sounds in Ukrainian or Russian.

please reaction to sanctus

PLEASE DO THE REACTION ON AVE MARIA BY THESE GUYS!!!!!🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Look for Ed Day version ❤

Can you please react to o holy night from tommee profitt it is incredible!!!!!

Please react to TNT Boys Christmas songs

Please watch Bol Hu: Soch the Band ft: Hadiya Hashmi

XD jajaja

In this category you should not miss boy soprano Aksel Rykkvin ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q9rvyvssvuI.html

Well, Leontovych is actually an author of arrangement of ukrainian folk song, not an actual author of song