Over the years, a great deal of research has been conducted into the curative and neurological impacts of music and perfect harmony. The Marais Project’s performance at the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival makes for an ideal case study, not only because of the chills induced up and down the spine, but also the fact that viola da gambist Jennifer Eriksson is in fine form despite breaking her bow arm just six weeks ago.

There aren’t enough superlatives to do justice to this performance by Eriksson, soprano and violinist Susie Bishop, countertenor Russell Harcourt and Tommie Andersson on theorbo and guitar. From the outset, the audience is witness to a masterclass in messa di voce, as Bishop and Harcourt reach a crescendo in their perfectly pitched opening notes of “Sound the Trumpet”, Purcell’s final royal Ode composed for Queen Mary II’s birthday in 1694. It is the first of three works by the composer, which also include “Fairest Isle” and “Shepherd” from his semi-opera King Arthur.

These are followed by Michael Nyman’s “If”, from the 1995 Japanese animated film, The Diary of Anne Frank, and performed here in a haunting arrangement by Eriksson.