Cappella Nova - Alpha & Omega - The Guardian

This third disc on Linn of choral music by James MacMillan by the excellent Scottish-based ensemble Cappella Nova once again displays their well-honed vocal talents. The group specialise in commissioning new works as well as performing early music. They bring control and precision to the ecstatic, incantatory nature of MacMillan's work in these eight works, six on disc for the first time, among them 'Alpha & Omega'. MacMillan is not shy of self-reference, as fans of his music may notice, yet each work - including the 'Missa Dunelmi' - is arresting. Violinist Madeleine Mitchell, providing a complementary cantilena to the vocal writing in 'Domine non secundum peccata nostra', adds to the numinous mood.