WHAT a curtain-raiser for this year’s Chester Summer Music Festival.

Not only did the audience hear this unquestionably expert ensemble perform some of the standard repertoire at which it excels, but there was also a chance to hear two winning pieces in what is only the second year of the National Centre for Early Music’s Composers Award.

Under 18 winner Owain Park, produced a highly approachable motet called Sweet Day, while Alexander Campkin was winner of the 18-25 category and he chose to set the Christmas motet O Magnum Mysterium.

The bulk of the concert explored two choral traditions: those of the Roman school which reached its pinnacle with Palestrina and the Venetian tradition exemplified by the Gabrielis.

The concert opened with the short, spirited motet by Palestrina Surge illuminare and was followed by an impeccable performance of the Missa Papae Marcelli. At all times, the choir was beautifully balanced with perfect diction. While it was possible to hear many of the solo voices, the way director Peter Phillips makes this ensemble sound as one is near genius.

A fiery performance of Croce’s Laudans exsultet gaudio and an equally punchy and a beautifully balanced Benedictus Dominus Deus Sabaoth by Andrea Gabrieli led the second half.

The tone was rather subdued for Dominique Phinot’s sublime Lamentations of Jeremiah while this spirited performance came to an end with a jaunty interpretation of Palestrina’s stirring eight-part motet Laudate pueri dominum.

The concert has been recorded for future transmission on BBC Radio 3.

Glyn Mon Hughes