Missa pro defunctis a 6 Voc. et 5 Instr. (c. 1650)
Miserere mei Deus 5 Voc. & 5 Viol. cum 4 Voc. Ripien. (c. 1656)
Missa pro defunctis 6 Voc. & 6 Voc. Ripien. (c. 1656)

EXUBERANT REQUIEM MASSES FROM THE ANTWERP OF RUBENS

cantoLX, B’Rock Orchesta and conductor Frank Agsteribbe present Antwerp Requiem c. 1650, an album showcasing the exceptional wealth of musical life in Antwerp in the age of Rubens. Philippus van Steelant’s recently-rediscovered Requiem settings are unique in their exuberant splendour, tied to a funerary culture that embraced the glory of life.

B’Rock Orchestra is one of today’s most forward-thinking period orchestras with a desire for encounter and exchange. The ensemble returns to Pentatone after having released Schubert’s complete symphonies with conductor René Jacobs between 2018 and 2022. cantoLX approaches vocal music with stylistic excellence and vocal purity. Their artistic leader Frank Agsteribbe was one of B’Rock’s founders, and brings the two ensembles together for this recording. cantoLX and Agsteribbe both make their Pentatone debut.

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This album was recorded at Klooster van de Zusters van Liefde, Gent, Belgium, in January 2022.