THE DURHAM Singers encapsulated the spirit of Passiontide in a recital of a rich variety of music, taking in the Roman Catholic, Protestant and Lutheran traditions.

At the heart of programme, presented at the Durham Cathedral Chapter House, was William Byrd’s masterpiece Infelix Ego; a soul-searching work based on the penitential texts Florentine preacher Girolamo Savonarola wrote on the night before he was burned at the stake, after being subject to unbearable torture.

Musical director Dr Julian Wright conveyed Byrd’s rich scoring in all its glory, with the singers laying bare every emotion.

The sense of desperation was palpable in the question Ad quem confugiam? (To whom shall I fly?), while the altos' agony in Desperbo (Shall I Despair?) contrasted wonderfully with illumination of the sopranos in Misericors est Deus (God is Merciful).

The performance reached a climax of heavenly proportions.

JS Bach’s Komm, Jesu, Komm is a more sensual and intimate exploration of faith and featured mellifluous conversation between two choirs, with the basses providing a warm underblanket.

Bach’s Jesu Meine Freude, speaking of Christ freeing man from sin and death, was

vividly depicted. Trotz (I defy) was emphatically delivered, while the singers relished the polyphonic embellishments of the work.

Alto Kathryn Crowder, tenor David Harris and bass Simon Tasker gave a magnificent account So aber Christus in euch ist (And if Christ is in You) before choir entered with comforting Gute Nacht (Good Night).

Interwoven in the programme were smaller gems by the Tudor genius John Sheppard, who wrote for both Catholics and Protestants in what were troubled times.

The included The Lord’s Prayer Christ and Our Paschal Lamb along with Latin settings of In Manus Tuas and Libera Nos.

An added touch was provided by Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, who read extracts of the texts before each recital, freeing the audience too contemplate the essence of the music.