Gramophone Early Music Award-winners in 2019, Luis Toscano’s Cupertinos offer us a beautiful recording of Marian works by Rennaisance Portuguese composer Pedro de Cristo.

Cupertinos – and Hyperion – are to be congratulated on bringing this radiant music to light.

It is a deep pleasure to hear this ensemble flourish. Since winning the 2019 Gramophone Early Music Award it has become increasingly obvious that the singers of Cupertinos and their musicologist-director Luís Toscano have a unique take on the golden age of Portuguese polyphony, and this is only further strengthened by this new release of Marian works by the extraordinarily under-recorded Pedro de Cristo (c1550-1618). ... One of the strongest points about this ensemble is their balance of inner voices – altos sounding consistently strong in their lower ranges and tenors spinning light, untroubled top notes – so that it’s hard to tell which is which at times. This strong core to their sound is part of their confident persona... As if the musicological discoveries were not enough, I’m now quite bewitched by this glorious Iberian sound world.  Edward Breen

Directed with a vocalist’s sensitivity from within by tenor Luis Toscano, he moulds intensity and affection with every phrase for this glorious recording from Portugal’s leading vocal consort.