Rating: 4/5
Review:
Very enjoyable
I like this disc very much. Collegium Musicum of London are an
amateur chamber choir so they don’t have quite the polish and
effortless virtuosity of some professional recordings, but they are
technically very good and there is a warmth and engagement here which
is very engaging.
The programme is
lovely, with works by Parsons, Tallis and Byrd surrounding Victoria’s
1583 setting of the Missa Pro Defunctis, plus a very fine rendition
of Guerrero’s brilliant Duo seraphim, all interspersed with some
brief English organ works of the time. It works very well and makes
a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
The performances are
very good. Intonation is excellent, there is a good fluency of line
and a real engagement with the texts so there is real life in the
music throughout. Their sound is akin to a cathedral choir, with
several voices to a part and a slightly distant, resonant recording
and acoustic. This always means that individual parts aren’t
always easy to pick out, but the overall effect is warm and very
pleasing.
There are many very
fine recordings now of each of these pieces, but as a programme this
still feels fresh and very enjoyable and I can recommend it warmly.
(I would also
recommend, if possible, going to a live performance by CmoL. They
often sing in some of London’s ancient churches and they are
excellent concerts. I heard them sing much of this programme in the
church of Saint Bartholomew The Great earlier this year; it was a
thoroughly enjoyable evening which persuaded me to buy this disc.
I’m very glad it did.)
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