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Vox in Rama
The Flemish-born composer Giaches de Wert was one of the multitude of foreigners who dominated Italian music in the mid-to-late 16th-century. Due to his significance in Italy his music had a marked influence not only on his contemporaries but also on future generations, particularly Monteverdi.
By 1581, he had reached his full maturity as a madrigalist and parallel techniques are abundant in his second book of sacred motets. The highlight is Vox in Rama - a fitting end to a set in which de Wert successfully adapts his foremost stylistic qualities, employed so effectively in his madrigals, to the sacred genre.
Lassus - Lamentationes Jeremiæ Prophetæ
In 2005, under the
direction of the Choir’s Director of Music, Stephen
Cleobury, the group recorded a disc of works by
Orlande de Lassus. The CD features his four voice
setting of the Mass for the Dead and the five voice
setting of the Lamentations for Maundy Thursday. It
concludes with the sublime Vide Homo, composed just
two weeks before Lassus’ death in 1594. The CD is
the first recording under a new contract
with Signum
Classics.
It
is incredible to think that these
mature vocalists are mere
students… The mystery is how
the
choir achieves its gorgeous blend with
such transitory, albeit
overlapping, personnel.
The
Times (April 2006, *****)
Collegium Regale’s dark, rich sound and
meticulously disciplined — and
beautifully enunciated — singing
enable
them to give full intense effect to all the
subtleties of Lassus’s
word-painting in these deceptively simple
settings of highly emotive
texts, as horror-struck contemplation of
utter desolation is
punctuated by flashes of irrepressible anger.
The
Telegraph (December 2006, ranked in the ‘Best discs
of 2006’)
…the Introit is given a quietly magical ending and,
in the verse of the Gradual ('Virga tua'), we are
treated to a sparkling display of virtuosic but
balanced singing.
BBC
Music Magazine
…their luxuriant blend of voices is lavished on two
large-scale works by Lassus, enveloping the
listener in an indulgent cocoon of sound.
The
Sunday Times
Carry Me Home
Following the success
of 'Christmas with the Choral Scholars', Collegium
Regale recorded a selection of folksongs from
around the world. Featuring many new arrangements
by members of the group past and present, it
demonstrates the versatility of the group: from the
lyrical 'Danny Boy' (Londonderry Air) to the lively
Negro Spiritual 'De gospel
train.'
All are sung
beautifully—enunciation is perfect and
the scholars’
musicianship is superb.
The
Organ
Christmas with The Choral Scholars
This CD, recorded in 1998, was the first commercial recording by Collegium Regale and reflects the wide range of their repertoire. It begins with early church music, typical of that sung at a men’s voices service in chapel, followed by some arrangements of traditional carols. The disc finishes with some more up-beat Christmas numbers such as Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and White Christmas!
'The genuine atmosphere of enjoyment sensed throughout the disc is at its most apparent here, and in general it is to the singers' full credit that they tackle such a contrasted and entirely unnaccompanied programme with such skill and success. A rare opportunity to surprise a friend or loved one this Christmas with a disc that embraces Byrd and Bing Crosby.'
Cathedral Music, February 1999
Critics Choice, December 1998 - Classic FM Magazine
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