Celebrating Anglo-Irish composer Charles Villiers Stanford’s centenary, this new album from The Sixteen includes 17 premiere recordings of Stanford’s Irish Folksongs and Partsongs. Stanford is celebrated both nationally and internationally as a composer of great diversity. He composed a substantial number of concert works, including seven symphonies, but he is best-remembered for his choral works. Stanford’s writing for voices is exquisite and his imaginative storytelling is ever-present in his Irish Folksongs where he captures everything from fiery revenge to passionate love with equal effectiveness. Stanford’s dedication to the poetry of Mary Elizabeth Coleridge also stands out—he was drawn to the lyricism of her poetry and the imagery she conjures up—something that is clearly heard in his Opus 127 settings.