Cristo: Magnificat, Marian Antiphons & Missa Salve regina

The Cupertinos choir, led by Luís Toscano, is on a crusade to shine a light on neglected corners of the polyphonic repertoire of the Portuguese Renaissance. Among their efforts is this simply stunning recording of sacred works by Pedro de Cristo, a monk and composer who worked in the monastery chapels of Santa Cruz and São Vicente de Fora. This collection of motets, a Mass, and a Magnificat setting show him to have been a master of late-16th century polyphony as well as a composer of heartbreaking melodic gifts; the Cupertinos deliver his music with admirable clarity and a creamy vocal blend that would be the envy of any Oxbridge choir.