Donald Nally (photo, top), conductor of The Crossing, and Taimur Sullivan (bottom), member of PRISM Quartet, collaborated on the album "The Fifth Century," released in November by ECM Records. The album features works by Gavin Bryars performed by The Crossing and PRISM Quartet, as well as two a cappella pieces sung by women of The Crossing.

Von Rhein’s review of the album states: “The otherworldly surface calm of the composer's setting, for chamber chorus and saxophone quartet, of texts by the 17th century English poet and theologian Thomas Traherne, belies the intense spirituality beneath. A fine premier recording brings us a glimpse of the infinite.”

Nally is the John W. Beattie Chair of Music at the Bienen School and professor of conducting and ensembles. Sullivan is associate professor of saxophone.

To see the full list of von Rhein’s favorite classical albums of 2016, visit the Chicago Tribune online.


  • Donald Nally
  • Taimur Sullivan