The Sixteen's concert on Friday was exactly mid-way through their Choral Pilgrimage tour, which began in Cambridge at the beginning of March and continues until November, winding up at Wells Cathedral. Their mission this year is to give a platform to one of the foremost composers of the Spanish Renaissance, Tomas Luis de Victoria, best known for his glorious Requiem of 1605.

Devoting a whole evening to Victoria who is not, in all honesty, a "box-office" composer is a brave venture, even for a renowned ensemble like The Sixteen. And, indeed, it was a shame to see so many empty seats at what proved to be an inspirational evening.

The first half was a selection of Victoria's motets and psalms, in which The Sixteen demonstrated the composer's supreme craftsmanship with their usual technical precision and unwavering musicality. From the deceptively simplistic, anguished setting of O vos omnes to the joyous Nigra sum sed Formosa, this was an eye-opening exploration of Victoria's diversity, encompassing moments of lyrical beauty, great passion and powerful emotion. It all added up to a compelling and momentous prelude to the main part of the evening.

Victoria's Requiem was, quite simply, magnificent; conductor Harry Christophers presided over an ecstatic, heartfelt and sensational performance, such as only The Sixteen can produce. I must confess to feeling a little cheated when I discovered that much of the Choral Pilgrimage tour takes place in some of Britain's finest cathedrals, abbeys and churches, including those at Winchester, Tewkesbury, York, Lichfield and Chichester. Such magnificent places of worship are undoubtedly more fitting to Victoria's sumptuous devotional music than a concert hall, even such a splendid one as the Sheldonian. Transferred to Christ Church Cathedral, or any of the college chapels, this concert would have been a thing of even greater beauty.

The Sixteen will return for their annual Handel in Oxford festival from September 15-17; call 01865 793999 or visit www.thesixteen.com for details. There will be another chance to hear the Choral Pilgrimage concert at Reading Concert Hall on October 1; box office 0118 960 6060, www.readingarts.com