The Oregonian Reviews Santiago de Compostela Concert

The reviews are in! James McQuillen of The Oregonian reviews our Santiago de Compostela concert with Marcel Pérès:

“An iconoclastic musicologist with an intimate knowledge of a vast range of early liturgical song, Pérès joined Portland’s Cappella Romana at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Friday night for a concert that should rank among the ensemble’s many milestones, a sonically and intellectually captivating re-creation of a vespers service from the 12th-century Codex Calixtinus….

“Under the leadership of singer and scholar Alexander Lingas, the group has invited its large and enthusiastic following into byways of sacred traditions of the Christian East and West, often revealing rich troves of unusual sound and historical interest…

“Alongside [Marcel Pérès], nine male singers from Cappella gave a terrific performance, uninterrupted over nearly two hours and using facsimiles of the codex (Pérès himself sang from memory). Often repositioning themselves in the room in a way that enhanced the flow of the chant, they displayed great stamina, ensemble and musicianship, effectively creating the illusion that this unique re-creation was perfectly natural for them, and thereby that a 12th-century manuscript was returned to living tradition.”

Read the full review on OregonLive.com!