This was an evening of music deeply imbued with religious sentiment. But the irreligious need not have been put off - the music stood powerfully on its own two feet.
A church acoustic certainly helped, with all three composers - Tavener, Bryars and Part - relying on rich, sustained harmonies built upon long rich and piercing notes from the double basses, creating a strange mix of calm and unease.
Catherine Carby sang Supernatural Songs with confidence and a voice of impressive fullness, lending real sensuality to verses seeing spiritual aspects in sexual ecstasy.
The four voices of the Hilliard Ensemble brought their crystal clear sound and restraint to The Voice of St Columba by Gavin Bryars. A perfect performance but the music was perhaps a little outshone by the Tavener and Part.
Fratres and Litany by Arvo Part formed the evening's highlight. The first for solo violin strings and percussion was delivered with great warmth and precision by the City of London Sinfonia and Alexandra Wood. A massage of sinuous melody and irresistably sumptious chords.
The second combined the hypnotic repetition of short prayerful invocations with real drama from the interplay of the orchestra with the firm and controlled but soaring sound of the Festival Chorus.
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