AS a first salvo in this year's York Early Music Christmas Festival, this was just what the doctor ordered: Charpentier savouring all the holy fun surrounding the birth of Christ.

Just as well, since the festival's remaining seven events (until Monday) have nothing to do with Christmas at all - strange when you consider it was set up to explore all that spicy seasonal stuff that never gets an airing the rest of the year.

Never mind, The Ebors, under Paul Gameson, were on terrific form. When you consider that 12 of the 15 voices were involved in testing solo work, you get an idea of their standard. They are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year, while also commemorating the tercentenary of Charpentier's death.

They had a top-notch instrumental group on hand - string quartet, theorbo, organ - to enliven the composer's imaginative backcloths. Words were the only casualty: the choir's Latin was rarely distinguishable in this slippery acoustic.

The best was kept till last, the Nativity Dialogue between the angels and shepherds, with the yokels bustling down the hillside, only to turn prayerful at the manger. All this just after the solo angel had delivered a stunning message.

The amazing Magnificat on a four-note ground bass was the pre-interval highlight. The ladies, alone, were slightly hesitant in Sub Tuum Praesidium, and the six sopranos tended to overpower full-choir textures. But their lovely straight tone was huge compensation. Tasty instrumental Noels leavened a scrumptious evening.

Updated: 12:57 Friday, December 10, 2004