Tenebrae, Nigel Short (dir) / Philharmonia / Steven Isserlis, Guy Johnston (clo)

Signum ★★★★

Both Rebecca Dale’s major recordings so far have been shadowed by personal loss. Materna Requiem was a response, once emotion was duly processed and life, as they say, ‘went on’, to the relatively sudden death of her mother. Her latest release, Night Seasons, was written during the last illness of her father, the paternal figure having played an important part in the earlier ‘Pie Jesu’, which unusually was given to a male adult singer. All this might sound a little weighty and introspective, but the essence of Night Seasons, the choral parts immaculately and feelingly sung by Tenebrae, the cello parts equally singing, is of hope and fresh life. Night is, after all, the time when we grow, heal and dream and possibly learn as well. Far from mourning music, this is a celebration of life and those who give it.

This review originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Choir & Organ magazine. Never miss an issue – subscribe today