Tomás Luis de Victoria

[aligreto]

Roughly when were the recordings done?

PD

2011, I believe.

[aligreto]

It's a fabulous box, atop the fact that I've never heard nor sung a note of Victoria that I didn't like.

I can readily believe that, Karl.

[vers la flamme]

This thread has prompted me to revisit the only CD of Victoria in my library... Nigel Short w/ Tenebrae on Signum.

[aligreto]

This thread has prompted me to revisit the only CD of Victoria in my library... Nigel Short w/ Tenebrae on Signum.

I hope that you find the music to be as wonderous as I do 

[Todd]

Wallowed in a mid-century interpretation of a Renaissance masterpiece.  Having been in the recording venue, while listening I created a mental image of how the singers were assembled, though it was no doubt incorrect.  The tempi are relaxed, the overall feel equal parts sumptuous and devout.  The singing is very nice, and I am so very glad that female voices were used.  Michael Noone's Victoria recordings still set the standard to my ears, but this displays no little merit.

Indeed, a while back, I picked up the honkin' big box o' Renaissance music from Warner entitled Josquin & the Franco-Flemish School, and it contained some recordings predating the HIP revolution/devolution.  The singing in such recordings often has less polish, but to go with less precision is a less insistent and, well, strict vibe.  Sometimes it seems as though beauty and overall effect take precedence, and academic niceties/irrelevancies get ignored, or at least (properly) downplayed.  While I have amassed a decent assortment of Renaissance music recordings in my collection, narrowing the recording time period scope of an already niche within a niche specialty may just yield some goodies.  I suspect if I go down this rabbit hole that I will have to buy old, discarded LPs.  Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

The sound is nice enough for a '50s ditty.  One benefit/curse of modern remastering and playback gear is that one can hear the boo-boos, like the cough in the Agnus Dei.  I kind of like it.  Keeps it real.

[San Antone]

Michael Noone's Victoria recordings still set the standard to my ears

I assume you mean this boxset



Unless he recorded it on a separate release, that box set does not include Victoria's famous 1605 requiem, Officium Defunctorum, but his lesser known Missa pro defunctis for four-part choir. I found the omission curious, and unfortunate.

[Todd]

I assume you mean this boxset



Unless he recorded it on a separate release, that box set does not include Victoria's famous 1605 Requiem, but his lesser known Missa pro defunctis for four-part choir. I found the omission curious, and unfortunate.

Yes, I mean that box, and he sets the pace for Victoria performances generally, though not this work.  This recording marks the first time I have heard it.