Album: Hespèrion XXI / Jordi Savall, La Sublime Porte: Voix d'Istanbul (Alia Vox)

"Dialogues between East and West, between two worlds and two seas" is the apt subtitle of this fascinating CD, which reflects the cultural melting-pot which Istanbul was in its medieval heyday.

The songs, prayers and dances which Savall and co perform come from everywhere along the south coast of the Mediterranean, with Sephardic song from Smyrna, folk-songs from Istanbul, improvisations on the Armenian duduk and Arab instruments such as the oud and kanun zither.