It seems barely credible that the Tallis Scholars have been with us for 35 years. The singers may have changed but the founder-director, Peter Phillips, is still very much in charge.

For the Annual Christmas Festival at St John’s the choir juxtaposed the music of the Flemish master Josquin des Prez with that of slightly later English contemporaries. Little of the music was strictly Christmas-related, but who’s complaining? If Josquin’s mass Ave Maris Stella, with its impeccably balanced, fluent polyphony, elicited the smooth, polished delivery the choir does so well, the ensemble also captured the more robust, vibrant style of John Nesbitt (Magnificat) and John Sheppard (Jesu salvator seculi and Verbum caro factum est).

With a pleasantly reedy alto and a somewhat unyielding bass, the inner core of the ensemble sound can turn alarmingly astringent. A touch of fibre, however, is undoubtedly what this music needs. The two Sheppard items thrillingly caught fire. Topped by a pair of sopranos dipping and interweaving like high-wire acrobats, this inimitable vocal ensemble soared to an exhilarating conclusion.

Still to come in the festival, three top choirs: The Cardinall’s Musick, Chapelle du Roi and Polyphony.
Until 23 Dec (020 7222 1061)