The angelic voices of the Soweto Gospel Choir

It was a perfect fall afternoon in heaven, and the achingly tender harmonies of the Seraph Choir spilled across the celestial meadows like molten gold.

But the vocalists in the ensemble seemed disappointed. The archangel conducting the group noted their dissatisfaction and asked if there was something wrong.

"We're pretty great, admittedly," said one of the tenors. "But it's just sort of wrong that, here we are in heaven, and the Soweto Gospel Choir down on earth is better than we are."

The archangel shrugged and sighed. "Don't know what to tell you, pal. They are better."

Indeed, rooted in complex South African vocal harmonies and Negro Spirituals, with heart-clenching arrangements of reggae and pop, the Soweto Gospel Choir - which performs Tuesday at the Garde Arts Center - essentially transforms any venue into paradise.

Their latest CD/DVD, "Live at the Nelson Mandela Civic Theater," was released in 2008.

Soweto Gospel Choir, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Garde Arts Center, 325 State St., New London; $25-$42; (860) 444-7373, gardearts.org.