Portugal: Vésperas de Nossa Senhora & Missa a quatro

The Portuguese-Brazilian composer Marcos António Portugal (1762–1830), well known in his own time for his fifty or so operas, is now a mostly forgotten figure. + He also composed a huge body of more than 160 religious choral works. + The two works here – their first modern performances – illustrate his conservative Classical style as well as revealing the operatic influences on his sacred music. + The absence of female voices from the chorus and violins from the orchestra bring an unexpectedly dark color.