Crucifixus – Classic CD

The work of a younger choir, Jeremy Backhouse’s Vasari Singers, can be sampled in “Crucifixus”, a programme of music for Holy Week on the Guild label. There isn’t quite the same level of extraordinary technical accomplishment here, but Vasari are certainly no slouches, and sing in a potently affecting way. There are works by Palestrina, Lotti and Gesualdo, but I was particularly taken by the one large-scale setting, a 27-minute Stabat Mater by Domenico Scarlatti (he of the 555 harpsichord sonatas fame), which is very fine indeed.

Classic CD