‘Forget the ‘All-Night Vigil’ tag and visions of a dusk-to-dawn Russian Orthodox marathon… From first note to last this was a powerfully atmospheric and often hypnotic account, with Jeffrey Skidmore and his singers (Jeremy Budd and Martha McLorinan the gloriously idiomatic soloists) going beyond melody and harmony to explore a rich choral tapestry where inner-part textures and movements were of equal importance and, especially in the basses, awesomely sonorous. In such a finely judged musical environment, Steven Osborne transcended the role of solo pianist to become an additional member of the ensemble. His playing of the nine Preludes…showed a subdued virtuosity and tonal subtlety that perfectly matched the mood of the occasion.’ (The Birmingham Post) Read more…