EscolanÃa de Montserrat
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2022 9:43 pm
Several times I have written down all my enthusiasm about how good the EscolanÃa de Montserrat is and how much I like them, and I can't believe to never have dedicated them their own thread. It's high time and here's a link to the thread about the Nuremberg Boys Choir Festival, where they very recently performed, so they were discussed there as well with some music examples.
You will not see from their modest posture on stage what musical jewel they are. Their sound has a uniquely fine quality that I have not found in any other choir. It is of a breathtaking gentleness, as light and soft as a feather, which can yet powerfully increase, and always goes straight into the heart. I called it silky in the Nuremberg thread and I do mean it.
As a choir, their voices reach a maximum of homogeneity, which is a full pleasure to listen to. And they dispose of superb soloists currently, as seen in Nuremberg, whose voices are homogeneous over their whole range. That is so admirable. Their conductor, Llorenç Castelló i Garriga (since 2014), is a former member of theirs, and I can only congratulate him on this exquisite choir.
I feel very grateful to have heard them live and every time it feels like surrendering to the beauty of their sound. There exists music which is so intensely beautiful that it almost hurts (but in a good way of course) and they belong to that category.
Regarding their repertoire, they focus on Catalan composers and also this attracts me, because I like to listen to them singing in Catalan.
If there was no Libera, the Escolanìa de Montserrat would be my favourite choir, no doubt. In fact, here and there I find some similarities in using harmonies and descants.
No recording can ever fully convey, what they sound like in a live performance, and therefore I do continue recommending everyone to see them, if you have the slightest opportunity.
We discussed them already starting here (apologies for quoting myself, but at that time there wasn't more to find at this forum, I believe, which hopefully will change).
This is a nice documentary about them:
You will not see from their modest posture on stage what musical jewel they are. Their sound has a uniquely fine quality that I have not found in any other choir. It is of a breathtaking gentleness, as light and soft as a feather, which can yet powerfully increase, and always goes straight into the heart. I called it silky in the Nuremberg thread and I do mean it.
As a choir, their voices reach a maximum of homogeneity, which is a full pleasure to listen to. And they dispose of superb soloists currently, as seen in Nuremberg, whose voices are homogeneous over their whole range. That is so admirable. Their conductor, Llorenç Castelló i Garriga (since 2014), is a former member of theirs, and I can only congratulate him on this exquisite choir.
I feel very grateful to have heard them live and every time it feels like surrendering to the beauty of their sound. There exists music which is so intensely beautiful that it almost hurts (but in a good way of course) and they belong to that category.
Regarding their repertoire, they focus on Catalan composers and also this attracts me, because I like to listen to them singing in Catalan.
If there was no Libera, the Escolanìa de Montserrat would be my favourite choir, no doubt. In fact, here and there I find some similarities in using harmonies and descants.
No recording can ever fully convey, what they sound like in a live performance, and therefore I do continue recommending everyone to see them, if you have the slightest opportunity.
We discussed them already starting here (apologies for quoting myself, but at that time there wasn't more to find at this forum, I believe, which hopefully will change).
This is a nice documentary about them:
