THIS entirely engaging concert opened with a charming instrumental, a patchwork of musical fun.

Beginning with the haunting sound of four recorders so infectious it was soon joined by the renaissance guitar, viols and voice for the first song, A La Cazza, a celebration of the joys of hunting. Not my sentiments exactly, but mezzo-soprano Clare Wilkinson's singing was so beautifully seductive that I soon ditched my principles.

The voice - full, rich and projected with a seemingly effortless purity of tone - was one to die for, with the refined and exquisite coupling of a Kyrie and the dream-like quality of Columba Senza Fielle needing a government health warning.

Seriously though, the first half was brimming with energetic and attractive music-making, such as Or Che Son Di Pregion with energised viols reinforcing a joyful song of renewal, and cultured solo lute contributions from Jacob Heringman, whose rustic charm obscured the intricate technical demands.

The introduction in the second half of a crumhorn quartet momentarily transformed the character of the concert: they bring a real earthy, rude quality and it was a shame that, along with the recorders, they could not be used for greater timbral contrast.

Nevertheless, Ne La Digna Stalla proved to be a rustic carol full of vitality and fun with the rhythmic episodes driven by the guitarist, and the clarity of texture in In Te, Domine revealed how wonderfully well the ensemble integrates and "ticks".

The concert ended with an infectiously, foot-tapping inductive performance of Forte Cosa E La Speranza... well, mine did.

Updated: 09:16 Monday, July 18, 2005