The focus of this complete set of the Canticles is tenor Ben Johnson, a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist in 2010-12, and these BBC recordings derive from his time there. Britten has formed an ongoing theme in Johnson’s career and he approaches the Canticles with a thorough understanding of the context of these five works, which run like a thread through Britten’s life. At a few points his singing could do with more poetry to the sound but the unaffected honesty of his singing is always welcome. Johnson is at his finest in Canticle V, where he brings clarity to TS Eliot’s strange visions of ecstasy, and especially Canticle III, the setting of Edith Sitwell’s wartime poem ‘Still falls the rain’, which does not often come across with such directness and intensity. He also supplies notes of his own with a nicely personal touch.

The supporting performers are well chosen. Abraham and Isaac opens with Johnson and countertenor Christopher Ainslie, judiciously placed by the technicians, making a hauntingly other-worldly effect as the voice of God. Benedict Nelson blends well with the two of them in Canticle IV. The recording keeps James Baillieu’s tellingly characterised accompaniments to the fore, as it does solo horn and harp, both excellent. Recordings with Peter Pears remain the benchmark, as ever. Philip Langridge on Naxos delves most deeply into the poetry and Ian Bostridge on Virgin comes with arguably the finest clutch of voices; but this new release from Signum Classics is a contender well worth hearing.