Munster Express Online

Christ Church Cathedral hosted an excellent Spanish Choir last week, Camerata Cantabile, with a concert called – A Hispanic-Latin American Celebration. They presented a first half of Spanish regional songs and for the most interesting second part, provided a wonderful selection of Central and South American work. Formed in 2000 in La Adrada in Avila, they have an exceptional repertoire and a very professional style using guitars and local instruments to augment the original sound.

They opened with an outburst of exciting Galician music and followed with regional examples from Cantabria, Castille, Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia, Andalusia, Extramadura and Madrid. The carols were beautiful and a Valenciano Lullaby was wonderful and gentle.

Dressed in ponchos an linen blouses the choir opened the second half with an ancient Incan hymn as they processed to the altar, led by a dancer. This song was the first published in South America in 1631. They followed this with an anthem of South American Indian Tribes. A Cuban bolero was beautiful and evocative and Te Quiero (I Love You) from Uruguay, was a highlight. The instrumental additions of drum and guitar added another layer of expression to a Villa-Lobos, Brazilian tune. The Mexican, La Cucaracha (The Cockroach) was familiar fun and the choir rocked out on a happy-clappy Bullerengue that led into a joyful encore and the inevitable Danny Boy.

The venue was warm and welcoming and the under-floor heating has added comfort to an austere cathedral. They seem to have abandoned the numbering on seats and pews, so it’s back to first come, first seated.