The style of singing here is intimately attuned to the time of year these pieces are intended for...the relative narrowness of the disc's emotional spectrum means consuming it in one sitting is probably inadvisable. Dipped into selectively, though, it is full of highly sentient, technically excellent performances, and is atmospherically recorded.

Warm yet pure-toned emotion pours from these 27 voices, and a fine corps of basses grounds the whole with exemplary gravitas.

It is not to be ignored that this is a very young choir - the lightness of the bass-line is particularly apparently in [the Sanders Reproaches]...The singing and, above all, direction are of such consummate musicianship that those small perceived imperfections barely matter at all.

Without the harrowing visual element one can more easily appreciate how intensely moving these cantatas are in their own right. Sacrifice may be the theme but sensuality predominates. Beautiful, cleanly etched singing and playing.