The mystery of Christmas

"First things first. If you want to hear Morten Lauridsen's setting of his wildly popular O magnum mysterium the way it should be heard, this performance by Suzi Digby and her ORA Singers is the one-surely the most affecting and successful among more than a few dozen ... There are 18 other pieces on the disc ... These compilations, when wrongly chosen and misguidedly organized, sometimes result in a frustrating and disorienting experience for the listener ... But not here. Yes, the majority of the works will not be familiar to most listeners ... But these are almost all thoughtfully conceived and well written and go together as a cohesive concert program ... This one makes a fine and I think very successful effort. And really, the Lauridsen performance is one to be savored".

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"The pulsing, fidgety rhythms of Adrian Peacock's Venite, Gaudite!, mark the ORA Singers out as a chamber choir of high accomplishment. The technical accuracy is exceptional and the sound smoothly blended ... The programme interestingly pairs ancient carol tunes ... with treatments of the same melodic material by contemporary composers. Of these Cecilia McDowall's 'Now may we singen' is particularly enjoyable, and draws a nimbly incisive performance from Suzi Digby and her singers".