‘Jeffrey Skidmore not only has this repertoire thoroughly under his skin, but equally the ability to inspire his splendid forces to communicate his enthusiasm for it with colourful immediacy’ (Goldberg)

‘It's superbly performed … the most impressive element is the precision, blend and sonority of his singers in a splendid setting of Dixit Dominus. The evocation of a bullfight in Salga el torillo hosquillo (in which the Matador is compared to the Virgin Mary) is thrilling in its energy and drama, and the contemplative serenity of Silencio is breathtakingly beautiful … this is a terrific disc’ (Gramophone)

‘Araujo's fusion of European-style vocal techniques with foot-tapping Latino rhythms is a revelation. Bouquets to Hyperion for opening our ears to these riches, and to the Birmingham-based Ex Cathedra vocal and instrumental ensemble, under scholar-director Jeffrey Skidmore, for such engaging performances’ (Financial Times)

‘Araujo is rightly considered to be perhaps the finest composer of his age working in Latin America … this is a captivating, colourful recording which may breathe the stiller London air but audibly relishes the genius of the too-long-neglected Juan de Araujo’ (International Record Review)

‘A hugely appealing, atmospheric disc … the reason we should bother with such an obscure composer is clear from the first note—the vivid contrasts and thrilling rhetoric found in Gabrieli and Monteverdi are developed and combined with a magical, dramatic, dark-hued Iberian sensibility’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Captures the essence of music informed by the assured grandeur of 16th-century Spanish music, tinged with the colour of native 'Indian' culture and often marked by vibrant echoes of the regions' African slave communities … an unmissable release’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘The performances throughout can hardly be faulted. A lovely and varied sonority is created by soloists emerging and returning from the 14-strong choir. The instrumental contribution is equally distinguished, from sensitive continuo of sustained organ and more rhythmically engaging plucked strings, to a positive kaleidoscope of wind and brass in the larger numbers’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Followers of Jeffrey Skidmore's earlier excursions into the Latin American Baroque with his Ex-Cathedra group should need no prompting to buy volume three … nothing stifles the infectious spark of these mostly secular effusions by the 17th-century Juan de Araujo, cathedral organist in Bolivia. Uplifting, and foot-tapping’ (The Times)

‘Skidmore and his choir … have included the largest of Araujo's liturgical pieces, an imposing Dixit Dominus in eight parts. The colourful, carefully paced sequence is interspersed with sections of an anonymous setting of the Quechua text Hanacpachap Cussicuinin, a Marian hymn that is regarded as the oldest printed piece of polyphony from the Americas. With beautifully varied instrumental support, Ex Cathedra turn it into a hauntingly beautiful processional’ (The Guardian)

„Alban Gerhardt und das Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin unter der Leitung von Stefan Blunier überzeugen im Zusammenspiel durch klangliche und differenzierte musikalische Gestaltung besonders der gesanglichen Momente und machen Lust darauf, mehr von Wilhelm Fitzenhagen zu hören!“ (Das Orchester, Germany)» More

‘Nicholas Daniel plays quite superbly’ (Gramophone)

‘Nicholas Daniel's playing, beautifully controlled and judiciously ornamented, makes it easy to listen again to a choice selection’ (Fanfare, USA)