Charlston's mezzo is as dark and full-bodied as a good claret, and she offers highly expressive readings of the texts, plumbing their depths with cut-glass diction and a glorious range of colours and timbres...She’s adeptly supported by Toby Carr, who coaxes soft and sonorous sounds from his theorbo.

The grave beauty of Charlston's inky mezzo is a joy in itself, and the fierce directness of her delivery makes a formidable impact in this programme of laments by Eccles, Purcell, Strozzi et al, with a terrific new commission by Owain Park (which feels perfectly integrated into the framework of the recital) also making its mark; Carr, always completely attuned to his singer's imagination, conjures some magical colours from his theorbo throughout.

Carr’s theorbo playing is sensuous and vivid, and works especially well in the sonic explorations of the four songs by Park. Charlston’s distinctive, expressive lower register, and the clarity of every word, contribute to an outstanding disc.