Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

For many years the Roman Catholic Church has been both a sponsor of and an inspiration to composers. The five composers featured in this collection were not all Catholics but all visited Rome and appreciated the liturgy of the Church. In chronological order they are Orlando de Lassus whose “Stabat Mater” is the longest piece on the disc; Tomas Luis de Victoria who contributes a “Magnificat” for double choir; Ferencz Liszt who gives us an “Ave Maria” and a “Salve Regina”; Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy with another “Ave Maria”; and Anton Bruckner with two motets. In addition we have three Gregorian Chants, which, it should be noted, are taken from ‘Cantors’, an earlier release by the Choir. Thus we get an interesting programme sung well and with just a minimal contribution from Andrew Wright on the organ.

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