Despite undoubted stylistic variety in the choice of music, the homogeneity of the sentiment here can be a little stifling. The Sixteen's performances are, however, irreproachably sympathetic.

With its sentimental title, this collection is clearly aimed at the wider market–place. But the programme is perceptively chosen to show how much wonderful music the image of the Virgin Mary has inspired over five centuries. Grieg's opening Ave maris stella is immediately inviting: it has a ravishing simplicity but is passionate too and it is followed by rich, lively music by Cornysh and Josquin laced with the special harmonic character of its period. Next comes expansive Bruckner with a thundering organ and then a delightful surprise, Saint–Saëns's delicious Ave Maria – a real hit.
The simple beauty of Britten's A Hymn to theVirgin captivates the ear, while Mendelssohn's readily melodic and characteristically ambitious Ave Maria moves forward with great fervour, splendidly climaxed by Christophers. Other highlights include Margaret Rizza's richly plangent Ave generosa, eloquently set to words by Hildegard of Bingen, and the romantically soaring Fauré Ave Maria, again using the organ to add background colour, followed by the gentle contrast of Palestrina's Sicut lilium.
Liszt wrote his Ave maris stella while awaiting ordination as Abbé in the Vatican: its hint of austerity is not entirely banished by a natural exuberance which intensifies the plea 'Loosen the chains of the guilty' with which Liszt no doubt closely identified. The programme ends with the dedicated, passionate serenity of Lassus's Salve regina, a most satisfying coda.
Performances throughout show this marvellous choir at their most eloquent, beautifully balanced and blended. Highly recommended for sheer pleasure, but also as a way of exploring a wide range of repertoire.

…the programme is perceptively chosen to show how much wonderful music the image of the Virgin Mary has inspired over five centuries. Performances throughout show this marvellous choir at their most eloquent, beautifully balanced and blended. Highly recommended for sheer pleasure, but also as a way of exploring a wide range of repertoire.