Mrs Mozart was a very lucky woman. Usually when a husband is in a generous mood then a meal out, a bunch of flowers or something from Janet Reger can be expected. Mrs M? what does she get -The Mass in C Minor! Constanze really was very fortunate - and so was the audience at Holy Joe's last Friday evening.

As ever with CEFC programmes, there was a little bit of group mortification before the feast. This time it came in the form of two short pieces. The first, Missa Tiburtina by Giles Swayne, is an a cappella mass reflecting the terrible economic inequalities and madness in our modern world. The stuttered opening of the Kyrie give way to the cacophony of the Gloria then on to the incessant marching beat of the Benedictus. A challenging work delivered well.

Michael Nyman was in the audience for UK premiere of his Mose. Probably best described as a meditation on Michelangelo's sculpture of Moses (www.romanhomes.com/monti-quarter-churches.htm) with the Ten Commandments. It has the choir singing first in English from an essay by Sigmund Freud, then, in Italian, selected excerpts from letters from Michelangelo describing what a tough time he is having with various popes, how difficult it is dealing with builders' merchants and how the client won't pay up.

It was hard going and, to the credit of the Chorus, they gave it their best. The whole libretto was in prose and the music seemed to be undifferentiated throughout. I am sure that the internal architecture of the piece is wonderful to a musicologist but hard work for a general audience. This, I am sure says more about me than the merits of the piece.

Then on to one of the most sublime pieces ever written. As we made our way back to our pews after the interval there really was an air of anticipation. Set against the sepulchral backdrop of the St Joseph's altar the Choir stood to deliver the wonderful opening of the Kyrie. They were joined by the superb voice of soprano Emma Gardner, looking fabulous in an electric blue gown.

The acoustics under the dome produce a three second reverberation and stand-in conductor Ronald Corp exploited this to dramatic effect. CEFC were magnificent - powerful but sensitive to the nuances of this wonderful music. In the Jesu Christe they went into full throttle and so enraptured by the music that they actually started to bounce!

Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the ethereal rendition of Et Incarnatus Est by Ms Gardner. Her fantastic voice was pleading, innocent and full of wonder, her range and delivery outstanding. Accompanied by a plain woodwinds she was simply angelic. The rousing Benedictus and reprised Osanna gave the Chorus the opportunity to work with all the soloists: a wonderful end to a wonderful evening.