With 'An Old Belief', the singers of The Sixteen—still one of the most popular vocal ensembles in the world—prove that it only takes an hour and a quarter to cover five centuries of music with grace and sincerity. The choir, founded by Harry Christophers (who’s still at the helm today), never fails to impress with the consistent quality of its performances, whatever the repertoire.
Hubert Parry's six Songs for Farewell, which form the centrepiece of the album, are surrounded by a number of Renaissance works—some melodies and carols by Thomas Campion—as well as Cecila McDowall's contemporary An Unexpected Shore. And every piece is delivered with the same passion and authenticity.
The Songs for Farewell, written shortly before Parry's death, are full of exaggerated lyricism, reflecting the composer's emotions as he helplessly watched the horrors of the First World War. Parry saw a significant number of his students at the Royal School of Music die in battle during this period. The Sixteen wonderfully captures all the pain that permeates through this composer’s work.
The choir maintains consistent excellence throughout the rest of the repertoire, especially in the Renaissance works. The carols possess a real vocal purity, reminiscent of a recent album by the Huelgas Ensemble, En Albion, released in summer 2021. The fifth track, An Unexpected Shore, is a wonderful surprise: McDowall’s shimmering harmonies will amaze all those who listen. It’s impossible not to admire the versatility of The Sixteen, which has so far managed to maintain the highest artistic standards for more than four decades.© Pierre Lamy/Qobuz