El Cant De La Sibil-La

Beautiful!

I am by no means an expert on classical music, but I know what I like. El Cant De La Sibil is a personal favorite in my fairly extensive early music collection. The two pieces are different realizations of the same work, separated by a century and a half. The tune is basically the same; the dialect and the verses are somewhat different. At first listen the pieces might seem repetetive. The choir sings a verse and is answered each time by the soloist (Figueras) who sings an unchanging response -- On Judgment Day those who serve shall be repaid. However, both the choir and the soloist make their parts sound at times plaintive, then certain, questioning, resigned, hopeful, etc. This is especially true of Figueras, the soloist. In fact, the more you listen to it the more you pick up on the differences of the mood and the better it sounds. Even if you are not into early/renaissance music per se, I would not hesitate to purchase this disc. There are some truly beautiful harmonies and expressions here which deserve to be appreciated on their own.

This is one of the most beautiful CDs Ive ever heard. These are two long, somber pieces, both based on the same basic melody and text. Montserrat Figueras has the perfect voice for this music - clear, pure, but impassioned and powerful. Both obbligato instrumentalists are at their best, in particular Jordi Savall, who is always a treat to listen to. The choir is extremely fine as well, in particular the basses, whose voices soar during a recurring section of the Valencian Sibyl. This might not be a particularly historically accurate version of these two works, and the extent to which they were written by Jordi Savall and not Anonymous Monk is not clear from the detailed though sometimes difficult program notes. Regardless, this is a CD that has spent more time in my player than perhaps any other.

Achingly beautiful -- quiet and powerful. Montserrat Figueras voice is stunning, pure, sometimes piercing. Im not a classical or ancient music aficionado, but this music haunts me (in the same way that Arvo Pärts music does). The liner notes give terrific insight into the culture of the time, frame the music.

Stunning! If it sounded anywhere near as good in 1550 as it does under the direction of Figueras and Savall, then its suppression by the Council of Trent cost Wester religious culture a real treasure.

A lovely performance of very interesting music. The Song of the Sybil is liturgical piece featuring a prophecy about the Christian Apocalypse. Apparently once performed widely in Catholic Europe, it fell out of favor during the Counter-Reformation. It apparently persisted in Mallorca as an annual Christmas tradition, where it continues to be performed annually. This performance is a reconstruction of versions performed in 15th and 16th century Mallorca and Valencia. The soloist, Montserrat Figueras, the chorus, and the instrumentalists, led by the outstanding Jordi Savall, are all excellent. This is powerful and haunting music.

For however beautiful is Montserrats voice, the haunting character of the chant, the breaking into polyphony in the third movement, it remains that these ancient texts are positively frightening and heart stopping, the imputed music adding to the gravity of their meaning. The work is appropriate for our time in which we are destroying the earth through the carbon detritus of our unbridled materialism. Moreover, I am glad to have this fine recording, though uncertain how frequently I will play it. Perhaps to hear over and again the third movement, the Catalonian text, will be bracing fine.

5 star

GREAT CD.... Okay packaging and shipping. Good seller. This is now my favorite CD and Ive listened to it about a dozen times. Strongly recommended.

The sibyls were first mentioned by Heraclitus in the 6th century before Christ. They were wise women who inhabited shrines, temples and caves who were blessed by the gods with the gift of phophecy. The early church acknowledge these women and appropriated some of their music. If you can ignore the imposed Christian lyrics, you can be transported to an ancient world and the brilliant voice of Montserrat Figueras does the music justice. Love It. Denise Clark.