The Sublime Porte (Sublime Gate) was the name of the open court of the sultan, led by the Grand Vizier. It got its name from the gate to the headquarters of the Grand Vizier in Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, where the sultan held the greeting ceremony for foreign ambassadors. Later the name came to refer to the Empire's position as gateway between Europe and Asia: a musical bridge this excellent release attempts to cross. Following the success of the album Istanbul, Jordi Savall crosses new boundaries between Orient and Occident : this time, the vocal traditions of the Ottoman Empire, Armenia and the Jewish Diaspora are masterly resuscitated. Instrumental interludes enable us to enjoy this journey through time and space. In addition to Hesperion XXI, this album features the elite of Turkish traditional musicians under the inspired direction of Jordi Savall.