While Florilegium’s first release of Bolivian material was certainly interesting, this is even more so. For one thing, there is extensive involvement from Bolivian performers –the Arakaender Bolivia Choir was auditioned and rehearsed by Ashley Solomon especially for this project– and, for another, the repertoire is diverse and fascinating, including as it does some genuinely new discoveries, the most interesting of which is a delightful Missa Encarnación by Bassani, in a recently completed revised transcription by Nawrot.  It is extremely short, but characterized by wonderfully memorable melodic writing, and clearly enthuses the soft-grained voices of Arakaendar. 

There are further (anonymous) motets and two villancicos by Araujo from Sucre, and also some very spirited playing from Florilegium of instrumental works by Balbi and Locatelli preserved in the Chiquitos archive. The Italian sonatas contrast wonderfully with the conservative but profoundly lyrical quality of the Bolivian works (notably Stella caeli extirpavit).

The whole is rounded off with the solo violin of Don Januario playing a traditional melody, followed by a high-octane ensemble arrangement of it. I greatly hope that this adventurous collaboration continues. IVAN MOODY

PIETRO LOCATELLI, JUAN DE ARAUJO, JOHANN BRENTNER
Music from the Missions and La Plata
Florilegium, Arakaendar Bolivia Choir
Channel Classics CCS SA 24806
2006 - 64:10 min.