Conceived by a bored Berlioz while others were playing cards, L’Enfance du Christ is unique amongst the composer’s musical offspring. He quipped that it was the subject that was different rather than the musical style, but his use of modal melodies and contrapuntal textures does set this “sacred trilogy” apart from his other works. At first he delighted in attributing it to a mythical Pierre Ducré (punning the name of his friend, Pierre Duc at whose house the card party had taken place) before eventually admitting that it was his own work.

L’Enfance du Christ has fared well on disc, often attracting some famous names: Victoria de los Ángeles and Nicolai Gedda for André Cluytens; Alastair Miles...