4th disc reviews

Septura’s 4th recording for Naxos takes us back to the original golden age of brass chamber music with the music of Gabrieli and his counter-reformation contemporaries Lassus, Palestrina and Victoria. This is what the UK and international press made of it:

Sacred pieces by Victoria, Lassus and Palestrina all evince a paradoxically delightful sombre monotony and are beautifully intoned.

The Sunday Times (London)

 

With this CD Septura proves once again that the ensemble is one of the best in the world.

Ouverture – Das Klassik-Blog [DE]

 

The players are so fundamentally good—such stable tone at all times, such ease of tuning and blending with each other—that one suspects a program like this might not have taken long to prepare and record.

American Record Guide

 

There is an overwhelming sense of sincerity present in both the skilfully crafted new arrangements… and the execution of performance, which is characterised by an approach to sound concept and turn of phrase that is seemingly laced
 with historical consideration and musical purpose.

For those listeners with a lust 
for music of rare reflective quality and unparalleled beauty, realised through
some the most perfect technical execution in brass performance recorded to date, Septura’s Music for Brass Septet – Volume 4 is sure to be one of the most treasured CD releases of 2016.

Brass Band World

 

The quality of their playing is so outstanding…The disc’s ’crowning jewel’ is the Four Motets by the Spanish-born, Tomás Luis de Victoria, the interplay between instruments fascinating in the contrapunctal lines, while a most pleasing vivacity is brought to the final Surrexit pastor bonus. Add a quite gorgeous sound quality and you have an absolute irresistible release.

David Denton