‘The decision to take the Ockeghem at an uncharacteristically high pitch is bold, and with a very bright countertenor on the top line the effect is luminous and transparent (dare I say magical?), very different to the chewy, ruminative approach that the piece’s text usually elicits. For this alone I’d recommend the disc unreservedly, but this starts as the ensemble means to go. Theirs is a very English sound, eschewing overtly dramatic interpretative touches, but the sensitivity to contrapuntal details is none the less striking … as a single-disc introduction to the motet of Josquin’s time, this is hard to beat’ (Gramophone)

‘From the outset, performing with one voice to a part, the male-voice ensemble The Gesualdo Six brings the intimacy and detail of consort music to these accounts. Josquin’s Marian works ‘O virgo prudentissima’ and ‘Illibata Dei virgo nutrix’ sound aptly radiant, while there’s a sense of hushed reverence in ‘Tu solus qui facis mirabilia’, the singers floating quotations from Ockeghem’s chanson ‘D’ung aultre amer’ as if they were wistful memories … throughout the programme, the singing is beautifully controlled … and the ensemble is finely balanced. Hyperion’s close-recorded perspective gives the words a particular immediacy while the warm acoustic wraps the listener in a velvet shroud’ (BBC Music Magazine)» More

‘The Gesualdo Six are well placed to record this music. They’re very good at looking around the repertoire and working out what will fit with everything else … I love anthologies, and I love this particular one … that counter-tenor sound, it’s out of this world. I should say that my favourite recording of this [Intemerata Dei mater] for many, many years has been the 1976 David Munrow recording and I think this actually outdoes it. I shouldn’t say that because Munrow is absolutely my hero, but I think this is even nicer’ (BBC Record Review)

‘Every item in this thoughtful programme soothes or excites with its complex beauties of form or texture. The meatiest pieces are the four by Josquin des Prez (this year is the 500th anniversary of his death), although the music of his colleagues and rivals never disappoints, especially Willaert's Infelix ego, setting words by the fiery preacher Savonarola … soaring magic from The Gesualdo Six’ (The Times)