A mighty ovation greeted the première of Philip Wilby’s A Brontë Mass, commissioned by the Philharmonic Chorus.

It is a major addition to the English choral repertoire from a composer steeped in its history. It is more muscular and red-blooded than most works in the tradition and has integrity and clarity expressed economically.

It was beautifully performed by the Philharmonic Chorus under their musical director David Hill with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.