A Monk’s Life
The Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice
Hyperion CDA68447
This is a superb programme mining a rich vein of post reformation music from German-speaking countries, all sung with the characteristic silvery tone of The Brabant Ensemble. Centred around the monastic hours it also offers a longer-range view of cloistered life in the late 16th century, including ‘Eating and drinking in the monastery.’ and it does all of this while exploring lesser-known composers, all of them engaging. Lassus features too, and combined with next-generation composer colleagues Hassler and Erbach reminds me of another great Hyperion disc: Festal Sacred Music of Bavaria, c1600 Westminster Cathedral Choir / James O’Donnell (12/94) which explored their grander, ceremonial works with brass and choral forces. It makes for a fruitful comparison since Stephen Rice showcases similar repertoire in intimate, luminous and altogether lighter performances.
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To read the full text of this review please visit Gramophone (January 2025)
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