Anon. El Cant de la Sibil - La: Mallorca -Valencia
1400-1560
Montserrat Figueras, La Capella
Reial de Catalunya directed by Jordi Savall
ALIA VOX AV9806
[61:11]
Crotchet
Amazon UK Amazon USA
Presentationwise, AliaVox are a class apart from the rest. With sumptuous
threefold gatesleeves and extensive booklet notes the CDs prove stimulating
before you even listen to them! However this particular recording is surely
one of the most beautiful and finest pieces of music that I've heard in the
past months, not just for its sheer haunting fantasy but also for its striking
originality. The sybillic chants from Spanish monasteries of the past come
alive in Jordi Savall's painstakingly colourful arrangements and the ethereal
voices of the Catalunya Choir add to the sacred mysticism of the music. We
have two chants here, one comes from Mallorca, the other from Seville, a
city rich in historic tradition and long known as a firm embodiment of Catholic
militancy ever since the days of the legendary El Cid. 'La Mallorquana' lasts
around thirty five minutes and is built upon a simple melody but sung with
such hypnotic regularity that the music grows in an uncanny way. Indeed the
whole processional ritual, explained in the booklet, tends to come alive
in the shaping of the sibyl which is also punctuated by a soprano voice.
Here one has the incomparable Montserrat Figueras, the light of Jordi Savall's
group, who sings the boy soprano part with an fidelity. The whole experience
is quite riveting.
The Sevillian Sibyl dates from the mid 16th century. Here the orchestra is
more sumptuous with percussion and other instruments prominent especially
in the opening and closing Fanfares. The choral writing is similarly beautiful
and there are also some passages for large ensemble that continue to fascinate
especially in the central part of the work. Hats off to Jordi Savall and
his Catalan musicians who have managed to recreate faithfully the mysterious
and long lost sounds of this style. Alia Vox have matched the project with
superb sound with the tolling of the bell remarkably tangible and the balance
between choir and instruments absolutely top-notch. I await further discoveries
from other European monasteries with interest and anticipation but for now
the mystery of Mallorca and Seville will do fine!
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
see also review by Gary
Dalkin
