Sacred Treasures of Spain CD

£15.00

Availability : In stock (50)

The Schola’s recording of renaissance masterpieces from the Golden Age of Spanish Polyphony, featuring composers such as Victoria, Guerrero and Lobo. These beautiful sacred motets are drawn from the repertory which the boys sing at the London Oratory for the Saturday Vigil Mass. This album forms part of the Schola’s ongoing ‘Sacred Treasures’ series for Hyperion records, an anthology of sacred repertoire in which the choir specialises.

‘This recording includes several of the most familiar, and finest, motets of the Spanish Renaissance sung, as the director is justifiably keen to point out in his notes, by a choir which has this music in its bones. This repertory is sung extensively by the choir, and its stylistic familiarity is evident right from the start … sitting listening to this sublime music in lockdown, one can almost believe that all is well in the world. Thank you to the singers, conductor, engineers and composers for providing some light in a dark world’ (Cathedral Music)

‘The Schola Cantorum are at home in the softer draping of Guerrero’s counterpoint, revelling in the gentle sensuality of his Ave virgo sanctissima and his lyrical O sacrum convivium’ (Gramophone)

‘Cole and his polished ensemble—and Hyperion—spring many surprises. You would have to hunt to find Ribera, Esquivel, and Vivanco (sensationally sung) all on one disc. Melchor Robledo’s interspersed plainsong—was there ever a more tender Ad te clamamus?—are just perfect. The rest of the disc—exemplary Victoria included—is of the same quality’ (Church Times)