A choirboy at the cathedral at Ciudad Rodrigo, the young Juan Esquivel (c1560-1630) was taught by Juan Navarro who had also taught the young Victoria and Vivanco. Esquivel went on to become one of the greatest Spanish composers of the Golden Age though until recently he languished in the shadow of the more famous Morales, Victoria and Guerrero. A contemporary described his music as “skillful and very sonorous to the ear”. Bruno Turner declares that his music “deserves to be heard because it is so good.”
2020
Eamonn Dougan
Regina Caeli
Hortus Conclusus
Missa Hortus Conclusus
Veni, Domine
Ego sum panis vivus
Alma redemptoris mater
Magnificat quinti toni
Ave regina caelorum
Nunc dimittis
Sancta Maria
Te lucis ante terminum
Salve regina
This is the first album to be devoted solely to Esquivel’s music and was released on Hyperion Records in March. You can read more about Esquivel and the recording here, and order the CD on iTunes or Amazon.
“There’s an amazing warmth to Esquivel’s writing which De Profundis exhibit absolutely perfectly. The music is perfectly simple, and beautiful. There’s a very, very classy countertenor sound – perfectly blended and never oversung. The choir has a really well-integrated sound and I really enjoyed this recording.” – Record Review, BBC Radio 3
“De Profundis are an ensemble I admire. They certainly fulfil their brief here: low, bold and more demonstrative than many of the English ensembles who also explore Iberian polyphony, and their sound is rich… and anchored by the attractive grain of the bajón. The passionate singing creates an extremely enjoyable and atmospheric recording.” – Gramophone
” This could well be a disc that will achieve awards.” – MusicWeb International
“This is a deeply impressive recording of marvellous and rarely-heard music performed by a world-class ensemble.” – cdhotlist.com
“De Profundis prove once more their perfect mastery of this repertoire: vocal precision, layering of textures, and, above all, a beautifully communicative passion.” – clicmusique.com
