'Amidst the perennial glut of Christmas-themed recordings that will be released (and re-released) this year, few seem likely to match this entrancingly filigree-fine collection of pieces for female voices... Formed in 1991, the Hildegard Choir is billed as appearing "with guests": a nine-strong permutation of soloists providing becoming instrumental accompaniment, together with the soprano Emily Van Evera on selections from Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols - capped by the bittersweet chiaroscuro coupling of 'That yongë child' (with Van Evera deliciously otherworldly-sounding) and joyous 'Balulalow' - that lace this deftly programmed recital together. A brace of contemporary songs by Slovak composer Vladimir Godár - the exquisitely tender Dormi, Jesu... and the humbly somber Ecce puer... with numinous contributions to both from Emily Van Evera - particularly catch the ear. ...But a word, too, for two rarities: Ján Levoslav Bella's Verbum caro - in which Van Evera's silvery soprano floats diaphanously over a Schubert-lite coupling of two violins and two violas...'