The Sixteen at the York Early Music Festival

The Sixteen and their conductor Harry Christophers stop at York Minster as part of their annual Choral Pilgrimage, to perform as part of the 2026 York Early Music Festival.

Spain’s Siglo de oro, the "Age of Gold", gave rise to some of the greatest sacred choral music of the Renaissance. The Sixteen explore majestic works by Cristóbal de Morales, famed throughout Europe and in the New World, and the exquisite polyphony of Sebastián de Vivánco, whose intricately crafted counterpoint adorned services at the cathedrals of Ávila and Salamanca. The programme also features spellbinding settings of words by St John Henry Newman: Sir James MacMillan’s "Nothing in vain", and the world premiere broadcast of NCEM Young Composers Award alumna Kerensa Briggs’s "Lead, kindly light".

Recorded at York Minster on 4 July 2026. Presented by Hannah French.

Sebastián de Vivanco - Christus factus est pro nobis
Cristobal de Morales - Emendemus in melius
Sebastián de Vivanco - Assumpta est Maria
Cristobal de Morales - Gaude et laetare ferrariensis civitas
Kerensa Briggs - Lead, kindly light
Sebastián de Vivanco - Magnificat octavi toni

INTERVAL

Cristobal de Morales - Jubilate Deo omnis terra
Sebastián de Vivanco - O quam suavis est, Domine
Cristobal de Morales - Exaltata est sancta Dei genitrix
Cristobal de Morales - Lamentabatur Jacob
Sebastián de Vivanco - Caritas Pater est
Sir James MacMillan - Nothing in vain

The Sixteen
Harry Christophers (conductor)

To listen on most smart speakers, just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Radio 3 in Concert."