Classics Today 10/10
A Spanish Nativity
The Spanish ‘Golden Age’ witnessed an astonishing musical flowering, fully worthy of the nation’s new-found preeminence on the world stage. Focusing on works for Christmas and Epiphany, Stile Antico explores this glittering musical treasury, drawing together an irresistible mix of sumptuous polyphony and infectiously joyful folk dances. The centrepiece of the is the superbly rich and luminous Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria by Alonso Lobo. Interspersed between its movements are motets by Tomás Luis de Victoria, Francisco Guerrero and Christóbal de Morales, an exuberant ‘ensalada’ by Mateo Flecha, and classic villancicos – traditional carols using folk melodies.
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Recorded: March, 2019
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Catalogue Number: HMM 902312
Stile Antico’s performance is flawless, the group’s technical prowess never at the expense of expressive warmth.
The Arts Desk
An ensemble of articulate, well-matched voices, expertly, artfully used. That’s what we expect from Stile Antico, and it’s what we get here: outstanding performances, timeless music.
David Vernier, Classics Today (January 2020)
Each of the Lobo works further showcases Stile Antico’s sublime artistry, the singers’ silken voices rising and falling like new-fallen snow.
Holly Harris, Winnipeg Free Press (October 10, 2019)
Their ability to rivet attention is immediately obvious in an introspective and raptly controlled account of the Missa’s opening Kyrie, while the poignant Agnus Dei highlights the group’s lithe expressivity and impeccable tuning.
Terry Blain, BBC Music Magazine (December, 2019)
Stile Antico’s dozen voices sing with polished refinement a mixture of sophisticated Latin and more populist vernacular material on this disc.
SP, The Sunday Times (15 December, 2019)
Sound is clear as a bell, and performances exemplary. This is an easy choice.
Steven Ritter, Audiophile Audition
Stile Antico is one of the leaders in this field… the Mass is given its warm fullness of sound by six voice parts, sung here two to a part with exemplary poise and glow.
Richard Fairman, The Financial Times (20 December, 2019)
Stile Antico’s performance is flawless, the group’s technical prowess never at the expense of expressive warmth.
Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk (21 December, 2019)
- Victoria: O Magnum Mysterium
- Guerrero: Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Guerrero: A un niño llorando
- Lobo: Kyrie from Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Lobo: Gloria from Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Flecha el Viejo: El jubilate
- Lobo: Credo from Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Flecha el Viejo: Ríu, ríu, chíu
- Lobo: Sanctus from Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Rimonte: De la piel de sus ovejas
- Lobo: Agnus Dei from Missa Beata Dei genitrix Maria
- Morales: Cum natus esset Jesus