York Cantores opened their 20th-anniversary concert with a fine performance of W H Harris’ Faire is the heaven, a choral work which radiated joy. Conductor Peter Collis directed proceedings with real engagement, as indeed he did throughout the whole programme.

Francis Jackson’s challenging The Shell fared less well with some genuinely uncomfortable moments, but the Cantores dug deep and finished well. Will Todd’s Vidi Speciosam witnessed the choir back on track with a quite hypnotic, very engaging performance. The dissonant harmonies were confidently musically executed.

The choir delivered a very fine performance of Robert White’s five-part Latin Motet Lamentations. There is a purity of sound in this piece, perhaps due to the simple polyphony.

I thought the projection and balance of this quite demanding work were very good indeed and the sopranos superb. Herbert Howells’ Take Him, Earth, For Cherishing is a deeply moving tribute to President Kennedy. It is a masterly setting of Hymnus circa exsequias defuncti by Prudentius (AD 348-413) and the Cantores gave a convincing account of this (at times) raw and uncompromising work. But the best was yet to come. I have never heard any music by John Sheppard, so this wonderful performance of his huge work Media vita was a real treat.

The opening was inspired: ‘Media vita in morte sumus’ (in the midst of life we are in death), the counterpoint was utterly distinctive and haunting.

The pacing of this large work was excellent and the singing very rewarding indeed. Happy birthday!