Toledo Cathedral begins its commemoration with a song to the Virgin

The person responsible for bringing this debut to life was the prestigious vocal and instrumental ensemble The Great Chapeldirected by musicologist and director Albert Recasens, who has dedicated himself for two decades to the recovery and dissemination of Hispanic musical heritage.

The program chosen for the occasion focused on the work of Diego Ortiz. The Toledo composer, born in 1510 and considered one of the great masters of the Spanish Renaissance, achieved international fame as Kapellmeister at the viceregal court of Naples. The choice of works to be performed was in keeping with the time in which we find ourselves: Advent, a time of waiting and hope. This is why his compositions dedicated to the figure of the Virgin Mary became the central axis of the program.

From the first moment, the atmosphere was one of contemplation. The singers, hidden in a side aisle and out of sight of the audience, began a cappella, letting the purity of sound reach the audience without visual distractions. This unexpected entry established a climate of contemplation which was maintained until the end.

The audience remained in absolute silence, aware that each piece was part of a larger discourse. Only at the end of the last note was there the possibility of breaking the silence with prolonged applause.

The eleven compositions performed demonstrate extraordinary technical and expressive richness. Some reached up to seven voices, in which the counterpoint was treated with exquisite delicacy. Voices and instruments merge in perfect consonance, reaching an imposing sonority when the dramatic charge requires it and brought together in passages of intimate spirituality.

The Cathedral, with its Gothic vaults, adds a new dimension. The architectural space has become another instrument, allowing voices to resonate under the high naves, amplifying the spirituality of the concert and reminding us that sacred music is not only heard, but experienced in communion with the place that hosts it.

This concert was not only a tribute to Diego Ortiz and the musical tradition of Toledo. It was also a way of announcing what was going to happen. The celebrations of the 8th Centenary do not want to limit themselves to looking back, but rather to open up to the future and share the cultural and spiritual richness of the Cathedral with new generations. And few things can do this better than music, capable of speaking without the need for words and transmitting a legacy that endures.

Thus, the Cathedral of Toledo began its VIII Centenary with a song to the Virgin which transcended the musical framework to become a spiritual experience.