‘The quality of the works is such that their neglect in the discography is puzzling … the Brabants seem very much at home here’ (Gramophone)

‘The singers enliven the texture with their nuanced renderings of the marvellous contrapuntal connections, and the recording makes the most of the double-choir effects in the final section’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Eastertide offertories, antiphons and motets from the master of Renaissance counterpoint. The spirited Surrexit pastor bonus, its accompanying antiphon Regina caeli and the gradual Haec dies are sung with a full-voiced, beefy intensity that lifts the music away from mere polite polyphony and gives it a really exciting energy’ (The Observer)

‘Highly recommended along with previous releases in this series’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘A perfect introduction to the breadth of Palestrina's genius, inspiringly sung’ (Organists' Review)

‘Palestrina continues to be well served by The Tallis Scholars … the business-like Missa brevis is captured in such a way that every detail is carefully reproduced, there's a breadth, distance and slight blurring to Missa Nasce la gioja mia that adds to the magic and the mystery. This is one of the best records of Palestrina currently on the market’ (Gramophone)

‘Under the masterly direction of David Hill, this crack student choir produces a clean yet luxuriant sound, reflecting the sumptuous vocal resources that might have been used on a major feast day in one of the Roman churches. The sacred acoustic, slightly distant placement of the microphones and seraphic high voices all combine to create an ethereal effect … the instrumental playing is both stylish and, at times, virtuosic—notably Bruce Dickey’s floridly improvised ornamentation and dazzling agility’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Purposeful performances by a choir for whom this music is a staple diet, and whose slightly edgy, 'continental' treble sound is ideally suited to it’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Ensemble is watertight throughout, and the Hyperion engineers have done a very good job of capturing the live-ness of the acoustic without every succumbing to muddiness. In sum, this is a brightly focused, clear-as-day tour through Palestrina’s Christmas music that seems to evoke Mediterranean sun rather than northern European snow … you have a good excuse to investigate’ (MusicWeb International)» More

‘The performances on this recording reveal the sheer beauty of all this music—and that of the minor composers is not less so than Palestrina's. The Tallis Scholars are a well balanced group, with women trebles whom it is very difficult to tell are not boys, in their purity of tone’ (Gramophone)

‘Rapt and truly inspired performances’ (BBC Record Review)

‘Outstanding’ (The Observer)