Schoendorff - Complete Works - Cinquecento

Rating: 5/5

Review:
Another cracker from Cinquecento

This is another absolutely cracking disc from Cinquecento - their sixth, in each of which they have sought to record some of the less well-known works of the Renaissance repertoire. They continue to show here that there remains a huge untapped well of first-rate music from Renaissance Europe. Schoendorff was a musician in the Hapsburg court in Prague from about 1590 until his death roughly 30 years later. Of his work, only two mass settings, a Magnificat and two motets survive, all of which are recorded here. Schoendorff was a student and protégé of Philippe de Monte and the two mass settings here are based on motets by de Monte, both of which are also recorded here, and a de Monte Magnificat setting completes a very rewarding programme. It is all very fine music, beautifully sung.

Cinquecento are, as always, excellent. Countertenors take the top lines, making the pitch lower and the sound rich and resonant. They are technically superb with impeccable intonation, a lovely blend and a very direct engagement with the text, highlighted by having one voice to a part which to me brings a real personal immediacy to what they are singing. The acoustic is ideally resonant without blurring the parts and Hyperion's recorded sound captures it perfectly.

With excellent notes and very attractive presentation, this is an excellent disc all round and on a par with Cinquecento's superlative discs of Regnart, Vaet, Willaert and Richafort - some of my personal favourites. Very warmly recommended.