Recording at the altar appeared seamless for Jones, drawing on his own experience as a young chorister. The performance garnered admiration, with some expressing awe at Bayoh’s talent, described by many as a “once-in-a-generation” gift.
Despite facing heckling on the opening night of ‘Alcina,’ Bayoh received praise for delivering a powerful performance. Some commended his resilience, noting the growth in his voice and artistry. One user wrote, “Such a beautiful voice. I’m so pleased that Malakai M Bayoh’s voice and performance is growing from strength to strength. Especially after the abuse he suffered earlier this year. What a talented hero.”
In response to the incident, the Royal Opera House took a stand, banning the disruptive operagoer and expressing their appall at the behavior in a tweet: “We are appalled that a member of the audience behaved in this way, and steps have been taken to ensure the audience member in question does not return to the Royal Opera House.”
The duet between Jones and Bayoh, bridging a boy treble from the 80s with one from this generation, moved many viewers. One user reflected on the emotional connection, writing, “How beautiful. Watching Aled always makes me emotional because it brings back memories of my grandma loving his voice as a young chorister; and the performance from this young lad is absolutely beautiful too. He has such confidence and expression and makes it look effortless.”
It seemed as if Bayoh found the perfect vocal partner in Jones, and what better way to celebrate their collaboration than with a beloved song that encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas
