Music For Holy Saturday (2002)

Between 1997 and 2001 Musica Contexta recorded Palestrinas music for Holy Week in three highly acclaimed discs for Chandos. Consisting mostly of previously unrecorded music, the series was unanimously acclaimed as revelatory by critics. Palestrina at his most expressive I can recommend the whole set without reservation. (Jeremy Summerly, BBC Radio 3) Superbly performed and vividly recorded Palestrinas polyphony here has a biting edge, beautifully achieved in this performance. Penguin Guide Outstanding a wonderful recording. (Gramophone; Editors Choice April 2002) Beautifully composed singing Musica Contexta delivers the direct and intense music with a potent emotional charge. ***** (BBC Music Magazine) The finest recording to date of the famous Stabat Mater. (International Record Review) These powerful performances bring out the musics latent intensity. (Daily Telegraph) 'The technical standard could hardly be better... these are exceptionally fine perfomances.' (American Record Guide)