Carles Magraner’s new project coincides, in 2011, with the IV centenary of the death of Tomás Luis de Victoria. It will constitute the next CD to be released by the Capella de Ministrers ensemble. [caption id="attachment_2713" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="© Pascual Ibáñez 06"][/caption] This new repertoire, titled “Canticum Nativitatis Domini”, brings together Victoria’s complete works for instruments and voice for the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany liturgies. It was during last December that the Valencia ensemble Capella de Ministrers, directed by Carles Magraner, recorded and presented this new repertoire in concert. The recording took place in the Church of Santa Maria de Requena and the concert in the Church of the Patriarca de Valencia, as part of the “XI Festival of Ancient Music: Music, History and Art”. The new album will be released in a deluxe edition in 2011 and will offer the opportunity to become acquainted with the least known works by the composer from Avila. Capella de Ministrers approaches Victoria’s music with an emotional expressiveness in keeping with its dramatic magnificence. With this new title in the discography of Capella de Ministrers, Carles Magraner once again celebrates Tomás Luis de Victoria, considered the most famous polyphonist of the Spanish Renaissance. On the previous occasion it was with the "Requiem" programme focused on the 1605 Officium Defunctorum, which the mystical composer wrote in honour of the Empress Maria, sister to King Philip II. In Andrés Ruiz de Tarazona’s programme notes for this repertoire we can read: “…Capella de Ministrers lives up to its name and excels in enriching the polyphonic fabric, giving it solemnity. This occurs, for example, in the beautiful introduction to the Lectio, that brief recitation with a processional character, note against note, and with only four voices, and really overwhelming in its naked expressiveness…” On this occasion, the pieces recorded comprise music written for the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany liturgies, with the focus on the motets, some as well-known as "O magnum mysterium" – one of the most famous of the entire sixteenth century – as well as other pieces that have rarely or never been released as recordings.

For this production Carles Magraner has banked on the extraordinary group of performers who usually accompany him, as well as a mixed vocal ensemble, alternating chorus and soloists. The solo voices will be Erika Escribá-Astaburuaga, Pilar Esteban, David Sagastume, Lambert Climent, Francisco Fernández Rueda and Tomás Maxé. For the recording he counted on the young ensemble L´Almodí Cor de Cambra. See the Capella de Ministrers discography >