The Argus: Brighton Festival ThumbONLY the high altar of St Bartholomew’s Church was illuminated for this sacred music with the black-clad Purcell Singers standing before it in stark contrast. The tall red brick church has a fine acoustic, best heard in the opening piece, Gregorio Allegri’s famous Miserere, where some singers – including the soaring soprano soloist – sang from the choir loft at the far end of the church.

The choir then sang three modern pieces from eastern Europe – Henryk Gorecki’s Totus Tuus, Seven O Antiphons by the Lithuanian Vytautas Miskinis and Arvo Part’s Magnificat. Miskinis is the least well known of these but his work was the most interesting, lively and varied. All were superbly sung and Mark Ford’s direction maintained a serene momentum throughout.

Finally, Thomas Tallis’s Forty-Part Motet, Spem In Alium, a 12-minute piece about hope in God. Tallis divides the 40 voices into eight “choirs” of five, who each develop and elaborate the music in turn before combining in an intense climax. A section follows in which pairs of “choirs” alternate before joining again to bring the music to a close. This needs to be heard in a live performance to appreciate its power and beauty and the Purcell Singers did not disappoint.