Over the past few years, listeners have been treated to a number of excellent recordings of the music of Juan Gutierrez de Padilla (c.1590-1664)... As many now know, Padilla was maestro de capilla at Cadiz Cathedral before sailing for the New World, where he became the musical chief at Puebla Cathedral in Mexico. This recording by the Los Angeles Chamber Singers' Cappella (their second Padilla disc) features the composer's sacred works for double choir. As on their earlier Padilla disc, the Los Angeles Chamber Singers' Cappella show themselves to be a precision instrument, and they sing this music with big-voiced power, rhythmic security, and tonal beauty. There are some terrific works on this recording. While Padilla's Missa Ave Regina is the largest-scale work on the disc, it's the motets that leave the biggest impression. His Dixit Dominus is wonderfully sonorous, the Exsultate iusti features voices imitating the sounds of instruments, and the Ave Regina shifts harmonies in a challenging manner. Perhaps the out-and- out masterpiece is his Salve Regina, characterized by beautiful long phrases that give way to rhythmic fireworks, a piece that features, as well, some interesting word painting. In sum, this is a terrific recording by a top-notch ensemble. |
