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The Sacred Flame - Cambridge Singers   

I'll be honest, my mental image of the Cambridge Singers is of rather heavy handed singing, suitable for John Rutter's jolly carols, but not exactly competition for the Sixteen. However in this collection of Renaissance and Baroque they have proved they can do subtlety too. The Monteverdi pieces bounce along with just enough lightness. There's a wonderful range of the best music here. Gesualdo's O vos omnes, for example, is full of 'he can't do that!' moments - it's electrifying. Buxtehude's chunky and jubilant Magnificat adds a little light relief among the exquisite likes of Victoria and Josquin Desprez... and it runs through neatly through Schütz to the (relatively) trendy 'new' music of Mr Bach.

All in all a great collection.

CDs by John Rutter

1945 -

Probably the most popular twentieth century church composer and still going strong, Rutter likes simple lines and pleasant tunes. Probably best known for his Christmas carols, varying from lively and bouncy to reflective, he has also produced a wide range of anthems, including the very popular Gaelic Blessing, and his rather more meaty Requiem. Not to everyone's taste, but no where near as saccharine as some suggest, it's hard to fault Rutter on a combination of professionalism and popular appeal.

The John Rutter Christmas Album   

Rutter and Christmas go together like... well, Rutter and Christmas. His carols are now solid favourites in the Christmas repertoire, and often rightly so. This album contains 23 tracks, most Rutter originals, but some Rutter arrangements of traditional tunes. The performance by the Cambridge Singers, Rutter's pet choir, is fine - they're bigger than a typical cathedral or church choir, so can seem a little heavy handed with some music, but not here. You'll find the obvious numbers like Shepherd's Pipe Carol alongside everything from Candelight Carol to What Sweeter Music, both reflectively pleasant. Go on, admit it, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a bit of Rutter.