Paradisum. Numerous soloist singers and choirs. Decca 2CDs
There are 30 tracks in all, featuring some of our greatest singers including Andrea Bocelli, Luciano Pavarotti, Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Renee Fleming, Jose Carreras and Bryn Terfel.
Famous choirs, such as King's College, Cambridge, feature in works by composers ranging from Mozart, Handel and Bach to contemporaries Eric Whitacre and Ola Gjeilo.
It is a collection of calmest and most thoughtful sacred songs.
Fleming sings Faure's Pie Jesu sublimely and Bernstein's Simple Song.
Netrebko has exquisite high notes in Lloyd Webber's version of Pie Jesu.
Terfel's splendid bass-baritone is applied to Schubert's Du Bist Die Ruh.
Faure's In Paradisum is performed by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and chorus.
Verdict: Serene, sacred, simply beautiful.
Incantation. Rupa Maitra (violin), Owen Moriarty (guitar). Ode CD
They perform musical styles ranging from Baroque through to 20th century, including works influenced by folk music of Spain, eastern Europe, Japan, Ireland and New Zealand.
This has 15 tracks including Lilburn's Canzonetta, and Vivaldi's Sonata in D minor.
English composer John Ellerton (1801-1873) is heard in a Tarantella, Piazzolla provided Oblivion, and Miramar is by Sarasate.
There are four nice pieces by Vivaldi and two each from Imamovic, Pasieczny and Krouse.
This unusual combination has a fine purity of tone.
I particularly liked their Vivaldi.
Verdict: Duo worth hearing.
