BREMF: Catherine & Mary: Tudor Queens Forever Entwined – Cantoría

Cantoria seemed comfortably at home with BREMF, and no wonder, their charming director Jorge Losana, has already been deeply involved as a mentor for BREMF Live! This whole programme was stamped with the hallmarks of BREMF’s high standards. First, of course, the outstandingly high musicality but also the easy communication with their audience. Jorge’s introductions were an accomplished act in themselves as he explained the extravagant storylines of the musical ensaladas they had prepared for us. These little dramas were easy to follow as they were brought to life by Inés Alonso (soprano), Oriol Guimerà (alto) and Víctor Cruz (bass) with Jorge singing tenor. Their clear and distinct voices blended well and easily filled the large acoustic.

Marina López held everything in place at the organ and further excellent accompaniment and role-playing was given by Marc de la Linde (viola da gamba) and Pablo FitzGerald (vihuela). During the finale, ‘La Bomba’, Marc pretended to be a sailor with an out-of-tune guitar. BREMF enthusiasts will have got the joke because viola da gamba players are notorious for taking every opportunity to hold things up while they re-tune their temperamental instruments. Marc was indeed responsible for some of the most virtuosic playing of the evening. The music of the Catholic Monarchs, parents of Henry VIII’s first wife Catherine of Aragon, is complex and elaborate but Cantoria delivered it with swagger and wit as they demonstrated the connections between the Spanish and Tudor courts (and present day BREMF and ESMUC). They are a very polished act and made a splendid conclusion to the BREMF 2024 season.

St Martin’s Church,
27 October 2024

Rating:

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Mateo Flecha – Gloria… pues nació; El jubilate

Anonymous Ríu, ríu, chíu; Verbum caro factum est; Dadme albricias hijos d’Eva

Flecha – El Fuego (fragments)

Antonio de Cabezón – Diferencias sobre ‘el Canto llano del Caballero’

Juan del Encina – Oy comamos y bebamos; Más vale trocar; ¡Cucú, cucú!

Flecha – La Justa (fragments); El Toro

Diego Ortiz – Recercada quarta sobre La Folía

Flecha Que farem del pobre Joan; Teresica hermana

Anon – Corten espadas afiladas

Flecha – La Guerra (fragments)

Luys Milan – Fantasia XXII; Pavana IV

Bartomeu Càrceres – Soleta i Verge estich; Sus sus sus (fragmento de ‘La Trulla’)

Anon – Yo me soy la morenica

Flecha – La Bomba (fragments)