Reviewed by Peter Dilley

A collection of popular sacred and inspirational songs and arias from one of Britain's favourite opera singers is always going to have broad appeal, and with a generous 20 tracks there really is something for most tastes. Hymn lovers can savour his renditions of "How Great Thou Art", "Amazing Grace", "Nearer My God To Thee" and "There's A Wideness In God's Mercy" (in Welsh and English), and the album title is from the old Shaker song "'Tis The Gift To Be Simple", which centuries later provided the melody for "Lord Of The Dance". Bryn also strides confidently through centuries of sacred classical pieces, from "Ave Maria" (Bach/Gounod) and "Ave Verum Corpus" (Mozart), to César Frank's "Panus Angelicus" (a duet with Aled Jones), moving up to the present with "The Lord Bless You" (Rutter) and a new and very different setting of "Ave Verum Corpus", composed for him by Karl Jenkins. Then there are the other songs, including Sondheim's "Send In The Clowns" and "She Was Beautiful (Cavatina)" - a version of the Deer Hunter theme, featuring John Williams (who else?) on classical guitar. But rather than a big show song, Bryn chooses the old mission blessing "God Be With You" for his finale. No expense was spared on the backing, with the LSO and London Voices filling out the sound where needed - this is definitely a first-class recording all round. Enough said, other than that it's no surprise to find this album in residence at the top of the UK classical chart.

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