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These three CDs feature a roll-call of virtually all the leading countertenors of recent history, hailing from continental Europe, the UK, and the US. Each has his own special vocal colour and style, from the very British restraint of Alfred Deller, probably the first great countertenor of the modern era, to the lushness of the American David Daniels, the elegance of the Frenchman Philippe Jaroussky, the fire of the middle-European Max Emanuel Cencic and the clarity of the German Andreas Scholl.

All these artists are exponents of ‘authentic’ performance, but – fortunately for the gentlemen in question – true authenticity is restricted to the track performed by Alessandro Moreschi. Dating from 1902 and the only known audio memento of a genuine castrato, it was recorded in the Sistine Chapel, Rome, where Moreschi sang in the choir. His sound is understandably plaintive, but – in every sense – the countertenors of Altus: From Castrato to Countertenor bring complete male bravado (along with sensitivity) to some glorious music. From the Label

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