Love, Lust, and Laudations: Flemish Choral Music of the High Renaissance

An absolute TREASURE

     

This recording is probably the only one of its kind. While I can't claim to be an aficionado of Renaissance music, I do love choral music and especially the ethereal variety. If you've ever been in a museum admiring the sumptuous paintings of the Flemish masters and wondered what their world sounded like, this is the CD for you: crystal clear angelic voices rising in waves and filling the space around you. Alternately reverent and even a bit vulgar at times (everything is sung in Latin or old French, but some folkier pieces tend towards the "colorful" in translation, which might account for the title and the painting on the cover). This amazing collection is captivating for the music lover, and probably even more so for the serious collector. I feel lucky to have discovered it--and the group performs here in my hometown! I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because, for some people, it may be too esoteric, but I strongly encourage you to give it a try.