Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Here's a pleasant surprise: while flicking through the informative CD booklet I noticed a list of previous releases from St John's, amongst which was 'Advent Live - Volume 3' under which is a blurb from Cross Rhythms saying that, quote, "The singing is uniformly excellent." And so it was and so it is on this latest release. However, just as we cannot step into the same river twice, we cannot listen to the same choir twice. Since 'Advent Live 3' was released in 2023 the admirable Director Andrew Nethsingha has moved to Westminster Abbey (and while this reviewer is not an Anglican surely this is a promotion). His replacement, Christopher Gray, has moved, like Nethsingha before him, from Truro to Cambridge and seems to have taken the baton without any problems. Of course, all choirs have a fluid membership and college choirs even more so with most degrees taking no more than four years, so comparing the membership on this recording with that of even two years ago will show much change. Indeed, 'Lament & Liberation' was recorded over two academic years so some of the singers have changed but what remains is the distinctive acoustic of St John's Victorian chapel (designed by George Gilbert Scott and consecrated in May 1869), and its organ as well as the pursuit of excellence along with the commissioning of new works. At the heart of the programme are two triptychs: James MacMillan's 'Cantos Sagrados', composed in the last century but still sounding as fresh and as shocking as it ever did, and Joanna Marsh's 'Echoes In Time', commissioned by the College in 2025. There is also a new choral work by Helena Paish and a new organ work by Martin Baker alongside existing works by Roxanna Panufnik and Dobrinka Tabakova. The composition for organ by Martin Baker, 'Ecce ego Ioannes', gives St John's organist Alexander Robson a suitable showcase. Everything about this release, from the haunting album cover artwork by Paul Whiting to the careful choice of blurbs to highlight previous recordings, shouts of an attention to detail. The singing is, and I say it again (and you can quote me) uniformly excellent although the subject matter is challenging in places. MacMillan's 'Cantos Sagrados' disturbed me on its first release back in 1990 and it still makes me uneasy. As it should, with its harrowing account of atrocities in South America. The rest of the content is equally thought-provoking and requires our concentration to get a full appreciation of what is on offer. Well worth it though.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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