This is distinguished singing from a superb choir. There is some astonishingly original choral writing here, particularly to be found in those pieces which are almost never heard, and the reasons for their neglect can have little to do with the quality of the music.. Delibe's Les Norwegienes, with a remarkable 'Slipping on the ice' onomatopoeia, is a case in point, and the first of Saint-Saens's Deux Chansons , OP. 68 -'Calme des nuits' - is a wondrous piece. It is fascinating to hear Canteloube's a cappella settings of two of the more famous of his 'Bailero' alongside the equally well-known Faure Madrigal and Pavane, with piano accompaniment, the choral writing in the latter work coming across with exemplary clarity. The Ravel chansons, to his own texts, are brilliantly done here; Masonet's Amaranthe songs are a real treasure, and Jeremy Filsell's piano accompaniments are excellent.