Amoria

For this vibrant and colourful album, the Labèque sisters reconnect with their Basque roots to explore a fabulously varied programme that roams over five centuries of music. Joined variously by singers, percussionists and a viola da gamba player, they weave a wonderful tapestry of sounds that reaches a toe-tapping climax with “Boléro” by Maurice Ravel (also of Basque lineage). The Labèques’ awe-inspiring unanimity of playing again takes the breath away, but they also find a gentler, almost melancholy quality that’s very touching. Folk music and art music collide here and create something very modern yet strangely timeless.