“The first track here is one of the most astonishing, sustained 18 minutes of polyphony you will ever hear: Contrapunctus realise the Gothic spans and arching phrases of Tallis’s lavish Gaude gloriosa Dei mater with wonderful clarity and poise...the superb singing fulfils every expectation.”

“...refined, elegantly shaped phrases, first-rate solo ensemble singing and rich choral sound. Tempi are excellently judged in lush acoustics and there’s detail aplenty, recorded with sublime perspective…”

“Contrapunctus are special. Their first disc, ‘Libera nos: The Cry of the Oppressed’ (Signum, 11/13), was seriously, startlingly good: the intimacy of The Cardinall’s Musick, the rich, glowing tone of The Sixteen and the textual drama of Stile Antico. Their second disc proves that this was no one-off...Choral blend is mossy-soft and balance immaculate...setting the bar in this repertoire.”

“...this superlative album...Rees’s choir brings an intensity of sound and dramatic dynamics, in music that contemplates the pain of death in ecstatic elation and sublime devotion.”

“The singing throughout is consistently full-toned and focused, but essentially for this repertoire constantly ready with expressive crescendos and decrescendos to mark textual changes in mood…Contrapunctus is the ideal group for this superb repertoire.
***** Performance
***** Recording”

“Whether you listen in Lenten penitence or in general hope of spiritual balm, the message is universal, the singing superb. ****”

“Owen Rees has devised a profound musical meditation...Experience and vocal excellence merge in the singing of Contrapunctus to produce performances extraordinary even by the British vocal group’s own high standards...immaculate intonation, refined tonal blend and near-perfect ensemble...”

“...this exemplary disc... Anguished masterpieces are juxtaposed with discoveries, including a convincing new vocal version of Tallis’s (hitherto instrumental) Libera nos. Pristine performances by Owen Rees’s Contrapunctus choir...”

“…high quality stuff, let me tell you…excellent all the way round.”

“This debut recording by the clean-voiced and agile Contrapunctus ensemble includes a genuine discovery...a ‘new’ work by Thomas Tallis...The choir sings it and works by Byrd, Philippe de Monte, Pedro de Cristo and Martin Peerson with admirable, firm-toned fluidity. More, please.”

“Owen Rees’s vocal ensemble Contrapunctus here presents a programme of Renaissance polyphony ingeniously employing lamentations for the subjugation of Jerusalem as code expressions of the plight of both English Catholics under Protestant rule, and Portuguese oppressed by Spanish hegemony. It’s a rich seam of material by such as Tallis, Byrd and Cardoso.”

“Their performance...is notable for the clarity and smoothness and line, with a lovely clear bright top, and a fabulous high soprano part in the Tallis. The motets are superbly shaped with a sense of an endless line and forward linear motion. The results are very beautiful...The ensemble do not disappoint and their performance is technically superb, with some profoundly beautiful and expressive textures...anyone would be delighted to have these technically poised performances on their library shelf.”

“Owen Rees conjured alert and shapely performances from his young voices...energised and vibrant”

“Owen Rees directed his young 10-strong choir with musical sensitivity and they produced an extremely attractive blend of clean and unaffected voices.”