A disc dedicated to a master of the ‘New World’. Padilla was a composer of ‘New Spain’ - the country
we now call Mexico. Whilst born in Malaga in the late 1500s he emigrated to Puebla, Mexico in 1620
to compose music in the ‘New World’.
‘Streams of tears’ reflects not only the penitential nature of this programme, the tears shed for Christ
on the cross, but also that period in history known as the ‘Siglo de Oro’, when Spain and Portugal were
masters of the great ocean and in the process of discovering and developing new lands in the Americas
and Padilla is symbolic of this age. This was a time when the church had money as well as a great
appreciation of art in the service of the church not only in Europe but in the new cathedrals of Mexico.
The music of this period is as varied as it is distinctive, with a harmonic richness and colour that is
found nowhere else.
“[de Padilla's] language has its roots in Renaissance polyphony, but it also contains more modern elements – a strong rhythmic drive, a feeling for colour and textural contrast. Everything in this set, music related to Christ’s Passion, possesses impressive grace and majesty, beautifully reflected in the gloriously phrased and blended singing of the Sixteen under Christophers.” Sunday Times, 18th May 2008 ***
“Whether in the crisply exciting antiphonal exchanges of brilliant double-choir pieces, or in profoundly moving expressions of penitence and sorrow that include a superb Lamentations setting, the Sixteen's excellent performances suggest that, had [Padilla] stayed in Europe, he would be recognised as one of Spain's greatest masters of sacred polyphony.” The Telegraph, 10th May 2008
“The latest album from the Sixteen, usually one of Britain's finer vocal groups, lacks polish...Words are poorly enunciated and passion low in the Lamentations. There is occasionally clumsy articulation, a slightly rough texture in the voices and a sense that they are unused to singing as a choir. One almost suspects that, short of time perhaps, they were relying on their professionalism to pull them through. Only the most gullible of Aztecs would have been converted by this.” The Times, 10th May 2008 **
“Such reflective singing is alluring. But is misses the inherent energy of this South American tradition, (revealed superbly by Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra on Hyperion). Nonetheless, this is a polished performance of less-familiar music.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 ****
“…these works bring out the very best in The Sixteen, supple, powerful and full of colour.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2008
