La Dolce Vita

Lodovico Agostini (Composer), Anonymous (Composer), Italian Anonymous (Composer), Severin Cornet (Composer), Pietro Antonio Giramo (Composer), Francesco Lambardi (Composer), Giovanni de Macque (Composer), Alonso de Mudarra (Composer), Giovanni Domenico del Giovane da Nola (Composer), The King's Singers (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: The King's Singers
• Composer: Lodovico Agostini, Anonymous, Italian Anonymous, Severin Cornet, Pietro Antonio Giramo, et al.
• Audio CD (May 1, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics Imports
• ASIN: B00000DNOR
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #433,838 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan, December 25, 2010

By 

George Peabody "Ariel" (U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: La Dolce Vita (Audio CD)

THE SWEET LIFE (LA DOLCE VITA) INDEED!!!

During the Renaissance the city of Nsples with its holiday villas and pleasures represented 'the good life'. The Kingdom of Naples was the gateway to the Italian peninsula and thus was much influenced by the Spanish culture and in turn echoes of the New World; wild and voluptuous dances and a tradition of song in the salty local dialect. The characteristic genre of the 16th century - the 'canzone villanesca alla napolitana (peasant song in the Neapolitan manner - may have its roots in the unwritten song tradition used by traveling minstrels.

The twenty songs run the gamut of emotions, and all are extremely entertaining no matter what your preference. They are passionate in their words and moreso in the music. There are expressions of sacred love as in 'Giamo: Festa, riso' (Rejoicing, laughing); songs of seduction as in 'Severin Cornet: Parmi di star' (It seems as if I spent the night in Paradise); songs of humor as in 'Catalina, Catalina!'. All are open in their expressions and descriptions of the story line.

The King's Singers are only six on this disc and they are marvelous in every way; expressive, exciting, dictionally perfect (you won't miss a word). They are: D. Hurley, A. Hume(countertenors), R. Chilcott (tenor), B. Russell, S. Carrington (baritones) and S. Connolly (bass).

The four-member ensemble 'Tragicomedia' are incredibly versatile and skillful in their accompaniments as well as their solo tracks. They are: E.Headley(viola da gamba & lirone), A.L. King (harps and tambourine), Stephen Stubbs (vihuela and chitarrone, director) with Nancy Hadden (flute and recorder). The instrumental arrangements are truly creative and ingenius, both in the single selections and full-group selections.

There are eight group numbers; four a cappella King's singer numbers and eight instrumental selections. The music is captivating, exciting, erotic and sometimes hypnotic. I am so glad that I bought this recording because I almost passed it up, but then I heard some excerpts and was instantly enchanted!

The CD is accompanied by a fifteen page booklet with information in English, German and French; includes the complete text and it's English translation.