Westminster Abbey Choir / James O'Donnell - Vaughan Williams, MacMillan & Tavener: Choral Works

From established favourites by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Sir John Tavener, to recent works�including two premiere recordings�by Sir James MacMillan.

This is an outstanding programme of choral works with strong musical and historical connections to Westminster Abbey and its celebrated choir.

This CD amply demonstrates that James O'Donnell passed on to his successor, Andrew Nethsingha, a choir in peak condition. The singing throughout is highly skilled and strongly committed. It's a demanding programme which presents the choir with a wide variety of challenges: all these challenges are successfully met. � MusicWeb International

BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE CHORAL AND SONG CHOICE, AUGUST 2023

This, apparently his last recording at the Abbey [O'Donnell], sustains the remarkably high standards he and his choir consistently achieved during his tenure. A special sense of intimate devotion suffuses the opening Kyrie of Vaughan Williams's Mass, the singing restrained but immaculately controlled technically [�]. In all, a fine and unmissable farewell by O'Donnell. � BBC Music Magazine; Performance 5 STARS, Recording 5 STARS

James O'Donnell masterminds an account of Vaughan Williams's Mass in G minor to rank alongside the finest to have come my way [...]. In sum, this classy collection will surely give lasting pleasure. � Gramophone

[Vaughan Williams Mass in G Minor] the ebb and flow of the music is exquisitely controlled; the solo quartet emerges seamlessly from the texture and back again. � Cathedral Music

JONATHAN DOVE (b1959), JUDITH WEIR (b1954) & MATTHEW MARTIN (b1976) Choral Works CDA68350

Beautifully performed and skilfully recorded, thnis is an altogether rewarding listen that inspires reflection and devotion. BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE

SIR HUBERT PARRY (1848-1918) Songs of Farewell & works by Stanford, Gray & Wood CDA68301

I couldn't resist [the] Parry, which places those voices right in the middle of the building and makes you feel like you're there. We're incredibly lucky to have this tradition......it works beautifully. BBC RECORD REVIEW