Named after the 12-sided ‘golden’ tower that dominates the River Guadalquivir in Seville, La Torre del Oro is the latest album from Christina Pluhar’s ensemble L’Arpeggiata. Pluhar is renowned for her ability to create innovative programmes that combine composed music with folk music – this album focuses on music from Spain, Central America and South America. La Torre del Oro features performances by singers Céline Scheen, Luciana Mancini and Vincenzo Capezzuto, with a variety of featured instruments including the baroque guitar and harp, Venezuelan cuatro and harp, cornetto, harpsichord, accordion and maracas.

La Torre del Oro includes pieces by Spanish composers Alonso Mudarra, Diego Pisador, Lucas Ruiz de Ribayas and Santiago de Murcia, heard in context with the jácara, fandango, folía, canario and ciaccona and the Venezuelan joropo and pájarillo. The programme also features works by South American composers – namely, Reynaldo Armas, Simón Díaz, Ignacio « Indio » Figueredo, Agustín Rivas, Hilda Herrera and Violeta Para.