This latest instalment in Regent’s trawl through the organs of English cathedrals takes us to Peterborough. Here an 1894 William Hill has been through rebuilds (by Hill, Norman and Beard in 1930 and Harrisons in 1981), while a fire in 2001 meant that more work had to be done then, and the booklet tells us that even now plans are afoot for yet more to be carried out. However, in the hands of Assistant Director of Music David Humphreys, it sounds, tonally at least, in pretty good shape.

A sprightly account of Parry’s Fantasia and Fugue sets things off on a cheerful footing; Humphreys, through his beautifully deft phrasing and subtle handling of the instrument makes about as compelling a case for this piece as it has ever received on disc. The remainder of the programme reinforces this impression of a player with an undimmable sense of enthusiasm supported by a vibrant technique and an obvious fondness for this 85-stop organ, which he shows off to splendid effect.

English cathedral organs rarely convince in early English music – and Peterborough is no exception – but Humphreys seems particularly in tune with this area of the repertoire and in John Bull’s Salve regina we have a performance which shines above the organ’s rather solid sound. At the other end of the scale, Dupré’s angular Final is delivered with such Gallic zeal that the blatant Englishness of the organ is quickly forgotten. My personal favourite in a disc full of delights is a perky and immensely charming account of a Schumann study.