THE musician Mor Karbasi draws on a deep cultural melting pot encompassing Sephardic Jewish song, Andulusian lullabies, Flamenco and jazz music.

From the plangent, keening opening notes of Ivan Hussey’s beautiful cello lines we were in for a sonic banquet, given straight from the heart. Sinuous grooves wove around the Cathedral and when Ms Karbasi appeared, she could have stepped straight out of the pages of The Old Testament.

She introduced many of the songs and told us the background stories of them, ranging from The Pomegranate Thief; a lullaby for her “little daughter”; a song traditionally sung by women as the bride is ceremonially washed and the Throwing the Cheeky Young Man down the well song (she relented and pulled him up again on a rope made from her hair…) Mesmerising stuff. Her voice is sinuous and intimate at times, whilst at other points soaring high and very ornamented. She bought tears to many eyes during some of the sadder songs.

The band she bought were all great musicians in their own right too, including her partner, guitarist Joe Taylor, and exceptional percussionist Yshai Afterman who played an amazing array of instruments, including a cajon box drum, various size suspended cymbals along with bells on his ankles.

I relished the fact that a beautiful young woman of Middle Eastern ancestry was singing ancient songs, often handed down from other women and mothers, in the old Cathedral. Perhaps there is hope for the old religious enmities yet.

Sarah Collins

The performance at Salisbury Cathedral was part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival, which runs until June 6.