Singing in Secret – Clandestine Catholic music by William Byrd

Perhaps the ideal consort for this repertoire, the Marians bring an intimate, individually passionate flavour to Byrd’s Latin works. Nimble, lively vocal colour, warmth in the soprano (all too rare among UK groups) and word appreciation are core characteristics of this finely honed ensemble. They revel in a neatly devised programme as sections of the Mass for Four voices, interleaved with Propers for All Saints, culminate in an urgent reading of Infelix ego – from the first entry they make it personal. The recording hardly feels clandestine, with an acoustic glow probably denied to truly secret liturgies but most pleasing to our modern ears.

REBECCA TAVENER Read the full review on Agora Classica