The nun of the Rhine is truly back on song with this offering by the Prague group, the Tiburtina Ensemble. Most of her music is in plainsong style, but that does not mean it is unoriginal or prosaic. O tu illustrate (in praise of the Virgin Mary), for example, is extraordinarily rhapsodic, inventive and wide ranging, and it draws deftness and suavity from the singers.

The group is entirely of women with a particular interest in monophonic music…they are all trained singers, and most of them also have a substantial career as oratorio soloists. So their ensemble sound is rich, with the occasional touch of vibrato…the music of Hildegard is presented responsibly but with a newly minted colour to the discreet instrumental accompaniments. It is an eminently worthwhile addition to the Hildegard discography.