IN the 16th century Spanish Golden Age, Seville was one of the richest, most cosmopolitan cities in the world, a place where arts and culture flourished. Two of Spain's greatest composers, Francisco Guerrero and Alonso Lobo, worked there, capturing myriad moods, from ecstasy and joy to despair, longing and devotional stillness.

Tomorrow's programme by Harry Christophers' choir, The Sixteen, will celebrate their work in Flight Of Angels at York Minster. Charles Hutchinson learns more from Harry.

What do you most enjoy about performing at York Minster, Harry?

"Next to Canterbury, where I was a chorister, hence the attraction, York is my favourite cathedral/minster. To perform in such glorious surroundings is quite simply a privilege. What is there not to enjoy!"

What makes the York Early Music Festival such a significant and special event?

"The festival has grown and grown ever since its humble beginnings in the late 1970s. I believe we first came in the mid 1980s; then we performed in the Chapter House and these days we now perform to a packed Nave in York Minster.

"It has now undoubtedly become the largest festival devoted to early music in the UK and one that people flock to worldwide. [Administrative director] Delma Tomlin has been a driving force in recent years and I thank her for making us always so welcome."

The 2015 festival has a theme of Entente Cordiale and Anglo-French relations over 300 years of music-making, but you will be performing a Spanish programme? How come?

"Ah, well, we have a 'special' relationship with the festival. York is a must for our annual Choral Pilgrimage and it makes such practical and indeed financial sense for us to collaborate with the festival. It's as simple as that!"

How did you put together this particular programme, Flight Of Angels?

"I have always adored the music of Victoria and I was eager to explore the music of his contemporaries. Of course Victoria spent most of his life in Italy whereas Guerrero and Lobo stayed principally in their native Spain. There's no doubt their music has a distinct Iberian feel; there's a sensuality and exoticism about their vocal lines which I sometimes don’t find in their Italian contemporaries.

"There's also a lavishness of sonority that identifies much of their music and perhaps this might be a reflection of the country as a whole, which, in 16th century Europe, was of course the most powerful country in Europe. The programme is very much an overview of their work."

What are the characteristics of the work of Guerrero and Lobo?

"Very few people will have heard of these composers so it's essential to programme as much variety as possible. What is amazing about the Masses by both Guerrero and Lobo is that there is incredible variety. Lobo was a master of musical form and his Mass 'Maria Magdalene' abounds in creative subtlety. It’s never purely academic.

"There are so many masses by Guerrero to choose from, so I've had to be pretty radical. The Gloria from 'Surge propera' is simply glorious; it allows the singers to relish in lots of word stress and dynamic variation, whilst the Credo from 'La Batalla' is a work of pure genius.

"Based on Janequin’s chanson 'La Guerre', Guerrero uses many of the chanson’s motifs in different permutations and gives us a vibrant mass movement, which has been a total joy for me to interpret. It’s brilliant in its conception and fun in its execution. Then we can contrast that with the flowing repose of the Agnus Dei movements from 'Congratulamini mihi'. Every line is a joy to sing.

"Robert Stevenson once wrote of Guerrero that the moods he captured included ecstasy, gaiety, melancholy, longing, submission and repose. By utilising so many masses, I think we can depict just that."

Explain the programme's title, Flight Of Angels.

"It was inspired by the amazing El Greco painting we used for the CD cover and Guerrero's inspired and simply luxurious 12-part setting of Guerrero's Duo Seraphim."

Will The Sixteen be back in York next year? If so, what might the programme be?

"Yes, July 9 is confirmed for our 2016 festival appearance. Next year's programme is devoted to William Byrd and Arvo Part, two highly committed composers, both of who at times lived in the face of adversity."

The Sixteen perform Flight Of Angels, Music by Francisco Guerrero and Alonso Lobo, at York Early Music Festival, The Nave, York Minster, tomorrow at 7.30pm. Box office: 01904 658338 or ncem.co.uk/yemf