These are, all told, performances of real quality and intelligence, by a choir which has carved a highly distinctive niche for itself amid the Oxbridge scramble

I love this recording; the selections and also the way you’ll find the same Easter texts set by different composers alongside one another. Excellent singing, it’s a lovely recording as well from sound engineer producer and editor John Rutter.

The tone is predominantly uplifting in its celebration of the Resurrection — lively rhythms in settings of “Haec dies” by Byrd and the contemporary Matthew Martin, heartwarming English harmonies from Hadley and Stanford. The choir ends with virtuoso singing in Lassus’s Magnificat octavi toni super “Aurora lucis rutilat”, like a slightly madcap encore.

[Graham Ross] has taken the Oxbridge model of purity and precision – solid performances of core repertoire – and spiced it with an intelligent, unexpected approach to programming…light on their feet and silvery-bright in tone, the choir romp through Bassano’s Dic nobis Maria and Byrd’s setting of the title text…[and]Lhéritier’s Surrexit pastor bonus offers a moment of contemplative respite – poised and beautifully shaped.

A good deal of thought has gone into the planning of this programme. Equally, it’s obvious that the performances have been scrupulously prepared. Despite the annual change of personnel that is inevitably part and parcel of collegiate choirs the Clare College choir achieves remarkable consistency – and excellence. The performances here are in the best traditions of the house... This is a most desirable collection of Easter music.