Houston Chamber Choir, Kinetic / Robert Simpson (dir)

Cappella Records ★★★★★

Mercy-bearing visions granted to the Polish nun and mystic, St Maria Faustina Kowalska, are both inspiration and framework for this deeply thoughtful and moving cantata. Latin scriptural verses and liturgical texts weave around English translations of Faustina’s words, communicated superbly by professional choir and viscerally vivid soloists, supported by remarkably varied and rich strata of string colour from Kinetic.

Knaggs embraces many historical influences, powerfully and unapologetically evident in an instantly relatable work which offers, nonetheless, deeper insights with repeated listening to this immediate and immersive SACD recording. A classic for our time, perhaps?

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