The Cardinall’s Musick: Gramophone World’s “Greatest Choirs”

In the January 2011 edition of Gramophone the world’s twenty finest choirs are officially named.  Voted for by a panel of leading international critics, we’re delighted that The Cardinall’s Musick (placed 3rd) feature so strongly. 

The Cardinall’s Musick come ahead of all the other Renaissance polyphony ensembles, beating both The Tallis Scholars and The Sixteen.  Peter Quantrill comments that “The word- (not sound-) based approach of The Cardinall’s Musick plucks them from the angelic realms with bigger, more individual voices”.  The “essential recording” is of course the Gramophone 2010 “Recording of the Year”, Infelix Ego, the 13th and final volume in the Byrd Edition for Hyperion.