Cantoria XL – ‘¡Feliz Navidad!’

Festive Baroque that dances, laughs and flirts. The vocal ensemble Cantoria brings the Spanish Golden Age to life with songs full of musical jokes, folk rhythms and cheeky allusions. Delightful ingredients for an unforgettable Christmas celebration! Organised by Organisatie Oude Muziek.

Programme notes

Christmas during the Spanish Golden Age was anything but subdued. Alongside solemn church music, exuberant villancicos, jácaras and fandangos rang out, effortlessly blending folk music, humour and religious stories. Composers such as José de San Juan, Sebastián Durón and Juan Francés de Iribarren drew inspiration from the bustling street life and brought that vibrancy into the church.

Vocal ensemble Cantoria takes us on a journey into this festive world full of danceable rhythms, colourful melodies and playful musical surprises. Shepherds, angels and kings make an appearance in a programme that celebrates the Christmas season with warmth, energy and a touch of Spanish mischief. A sparkling Christmas concert in which the boundaries between folk festival and church music blur.

Programme

• José de San Juan
  – Off to the party, lads
  – Let the zephyrs blow
  – A night when the Three Kings (Xácara de Reyes)

• Traditional / arr. Jeremy Nastasi
  – ‘Españoletas’ (instrumental)

• Joan Cererols
  – Serafín, with sweet harmony

• Juan Bautista Comes
  – A quién visteis pastores

• José de Torres y Martínez Bravo
  – Gitanillas Cortesanas

• Anonymous / arr. Marc de la Linde
  – Xácara ‘No hay que decirle el primor’ (instrumental)

• José Martínez de Arce
  – Jilguerillo canoro

• Sebastián Durón
  – Well then, let’s break the ice

• Juan Francés de Iribarren
  – Xácara del Fandanguillo

• Santiago de Murcia / arr. Pablo Fitzgerald
  – Instrumental Fandango

• José Martínez de Arce
  – Listen to the jacarilla

• Mateo Romero
  – Soberana María

• José de San Juan
  – The ringing of the bells

The musicians

Cantoria
Cantoria is a vocal ensemble from Spain that specialises in Renaissance and early Baroque music from the Iberian Peninsula. Since its foundation in 2016, the ensemble has developed into one of the most striking young voices in the world of early music. Under the direction of tenor Jorge Losana, Cantoría brings centuries-old music to life with expressive singing, a strong theatrical presentation and infectious enthusiasm.

The ensemble focuses primarily on repertoire from the Spanish Golden Age, including villancicos, ensaladas and other vocal works that blend religious, folk and humorous elements. Cantoria is renowned for its lively performances, in which the music is not only sung, but also narrated and played.

Having performed at leading festivals and concert venues across Europe, the ensemble has built up an international reputation. In 2024, Cantoria was Artist in Residence at the Utrecht Early Music Festival.

Performers
Inés Alonso, Victoria Cassano – soprano
Belén Herrero, Juan Manuel Morales – alto
Oriol Guimerá – tenor
Lluís Arratia, David Guitart – bass
Pablo Albarracín, Sara Balasch – violin
Marc de la Linde – viola da gamba
Jeremy Nastasi – theorbo, guitar
Iñaki de la Linde – percussion
Joan Seguí – harpsichord, organ
Jorge Losana – musical director, tenor