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£14.00 Ex Cathedra Ex Cathedra Consort and Baroque Ensemble revel in a third programme of the exuberant Latin American Baroque repertoire for which the group has received rapturous acclaim. The first two discs of this repertoire have captured the public imagination and catapulted Ex Cathedra to the top of the classical CD charts. Particularly featured on this disc is the rhythmically arresting music of Juan de Araujo with his settings of wonderfully evocative, indigenous, imagery. CD OF THE MONTH (BBC Music Magazine) 'Skidmore and his choir … have included the largest of Araujo's liturgical pieces, an imposing Dixit Dominus in eight parts. The colourful, carefully paced sequence is interspersed with sections of an anonymous setting of the Quechua text Hanacpachap cussicuinin, a Marian hymn that is regarded as the oldest printed piece of polyphony from the Americas. With beautifully varied instrumental support, Ex Cathedra turn it into a hauntingly beautiful processional' (The Guardian) 'Followers of Jeffrey Skidmore's earlier excursions into the Latin American Baroque with his Ex Cathedra group should need no prompting to buy volume three … Nothing stifles the infectious spark of these mostly secular effusions by the 17th-century Juan de Araujo, cathedral organist in Bolivia. Uplifting, and foot-tapping' (The Times) 'The performances throughout can hardly be faulted. A lovely and varied sonority is created by soloists emerging and returning from the 14-strong choir. The instrumental contribution is equally distinguished, from sensitive continuo of sustained organ and more rhythmically engaging plucked strings, to a positive kaleidoscope of wind and brass in the larger numbers' (BBC Music Magazine, CD of the Month) '… Captures the essence of music informed by the assured grandeur of 16th-century Spanish music, tinged with the colour of native 'Indian' culture and often marked by vibrant echoes of the regions' African slave communities … An unmissable release' (Classic FM Magazine, Vocal & Opera Disc of the Month) 'A hugely appealing, atmospheric disc … The reason we should bother with such an obscure composer is clear from the first note - the vivid contrasts and thrilling rhetoric found in Gabrieli and Monteverdi are developed and combined with a magical, dramatic, dark-hued Iberian sensibility' (Sunday Times) 'Araujo is rightly considered to be perhaps the finest composer of his age working in Latin America … This is a captivating, colourful reocrding which may breathe the stiller London air but audibly relishes the genius of the too-long-neglected Juan de Araujo' (International Record Review) 'Araujo's fusion of European-style vocal techniques with foot-tapping Latino rhythms is a revelation. Bouquets to Hyperion for opening our ears to these riches, and to the Birmingham-based Ex Cathedra vocal and instrumental ensemble, under scholar-director Jeffrey Skidmore, for such engaging performances' (Financial Times) 'This is a splendid disc and a very worthy successor to the preceding volumes. The standard of performance is unfailingly excellent. Ensemble work, both vocal and instrumental, is tight and the many vocal solos are all taken extremely well. The performances display flair and finesse on the part of all concerned Jeffrey Skidmore’s direction is perceptive, lively and, above all, persuasive. It’s quite astonishing to think of this music being composed and performed in a remote colonial outpost in seventeenth century Latin America and the survival of the music and its revival today is something for which we should be grateful. Juan de Araujo was a fine composer and he has been exceptionally well served here by Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra. This is a CD that commands attention' (MusicWeb.com) 'High art meets the reality of the New World, resulting in a new music that modern performers and audiences are just beginning to appreciate … This is exactly what the classical music 'industry' should be about' (PositiveFeedback.com, USA) |
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FIRE BURNING IN SNOW