After ten years in existence, the Oxford Philomusica continues to delight with its imaginative and exciting programming, and its two-month Haydn Festival will surely be looked upon in years to come as one of the pinnacles of its achievements. In true Philomusica style, this is not merely a stroll through highlights of Haydn’s career; rather, the festival is an exploration of the music of Haydn and other composers with anniversaries this year, designed, as the programme notes tell us, “to illustrate both Haydn’s historical significance and enduring influence”.

At the third concert of the series last Friday, the orchestra was joined by the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir and their conductor, Ebbe Munk, in an evening of Haydn, Purcell and Handel.

In Purcell’s My Heart is Inditing, the visiting choir instantly impressed with the precision, clarity and tonal purity of their singing, and the depth of feeling with which the piece was imbued. Written for the coronation of James II in 1685, Purcell gave his anthem some appropriately spectacular outer movements, which the choir fully explored, while drawing a fine contrast between this grandeur and the more sensitive nature of Hearken, O Daughter. Handel’s setting of the same text – written for the coronation of George II in 1727 – was given a similarly heartfelt and sensitive rendition.

Sandwiched in between was an extract from Haydn’s Battle of the Nile, written to mark Nelson’s victory over Napoleon in Egypt in 1798, and sung here with beautiful simplicity by Swedish soprano Anna Jobrant Dalnäs.

But the crowning glory of the evening was Haydn’s exuberant Nelson Mass, performed by the choir with energy and spirit, and with wonderfully exciting support from the brass section. Once again, Dalnäs thrilled with some exquisitely sublime moments, but there were equally stunning contributions from mezzo Elenor Wiman, tenor David Danholt and bass Steffen Bruum.

The Haydn Festival continues until July 8; visit www.oxfordphil.com for details.