As Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent this week and the forty weekdays of fasting began, Hyperion released this sublime CD of some of the finest polyphonic Renaissance music in the repertoire. It is a perfect companion to start the journey to Easter via Holy Week.

In a departure from Previous recordings, Owain Park and his Gesualdo Six, have set themselves up in a circular formation, enabling them to see each other’s faces as they perform thus successfully ensuring that they can notice the slightest movement, playing off one another as the lines intertwined.

As one has come to expect with this group, superb, well-controlled singing, wonderful phrasing that produce exquisite lines of beauty and making good use of St Jude-on-the-Hill, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London.

One of the delights that sets this CD apart, is the inclusion of two contemporary pieces forming part of the 70 minutes of this inspiring music. The addition of Bingham and Ward’s pieces do so without jarring as contemporary compositions. At the end of the Tallis Lamentations the consort link to Gesualdo with Judith Bingham’s impressive Watch with me, ‘Then Jesus went with them' a piece that wonderfully links the renaissance to the 21st century.

The closing words are picked up in the first Responsory by Gesualdo: ‘Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.’ The rich, sonorous tone of the basses adds depth to the words, and the countertenors cut through effectively. Bingham uses all the voices to effectually produce colour and bring the text to life. Immediately as it ends the sextet begin the Gesualdo with presence and gravitas.

Likewise at the end of Gesualdo the choir crescendos and Joanna Ward’s minimalistic style Christus factus est provides a stark contrast to what has come before, using wonderful techniques to hint at both plainchant and folk song, it rounds off this CD perfectly.

A more than welcome addition to the catalogue.