Product Review

This month, Gramophone award nominees Cinquecento add another glorious recording to their Hyperion discography. The group, comprised of six professional singers from five European countries, is rapidly becoming one of today s most admired early music ensembles. Their profound collective and individual musicianship, mellifluous phrasing, perfect intonation and commitment to their chosen repertoire are clearly apparent in this gem of a disc. Here, the group uncovers the complete surviving works of Philipp Schoendorff. Schoendorff, originally a pupil of the illustrious Philippe de Monte, was a successful choirmaster at the Prague court of the Emperor Rudolf II. Also included are a Magnificat by his teacher de Monte and the two motets on which his pupil based his masses. No fan of Renaissance polyphony should overlook this outstanding recording.