Rex Regum: An Imperial Christmas, Jheronimus Vinders: Missa Fit porta Christi pervia – Cappella Pratensis

Rex regum – An Imperial Christmas recreates one of the most remarkable Christmas celebrations of the Renaissance: the festive Mass celebrated in ‘s-Hertogenbosch on Christmas Day 1545, attended by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V during an unexpected stay in the city. Centered around Jheronimus Vinders’ magnificent Missa Fit porta Christi pervia, the programme weaves together plainsong, Renaissance polyphony, traditional Dutch Christmas songs and organ music to evoke the rich soundscape of a sixteenth-century Christmas liturgy. As the final volume in Cappella Pratensis’ acclaimed Den Bosch Choirbooks series, this recording brings centuries-old musical treasures from one of Europe’s most important surviving choirbook collections vividly back to life through historically informed performance and meticulous scholarship.

Adding to the recording’s extraordinary authenticity is the use of the Van Straten organ at Amsterdam’s Orgelpark, an exact reconstruction of the celebrated 1479 organ from Utrecht’s Nicolaïkerk, whose sound world closely reflects that of the late Middle Ages. Combined with the ensemble’s immersive performance practice, singing directly from original choirbook notation, the result is an inspiring musical journey that transports the listener into the splendour, devotion and ceremonial grandeur of an imperial Christmas more than 480 years ago.

The ensemble regularly has received a Diapason d’Or, the Prix Choc, and three consecutive Gramophone Editor’s Choice’s for the last three CDs. In 2024 Capella Pratensis received a Gramophone Award, maybe the most important award one can receive in classical music!