Customer Reviews

Monteverdi: Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This interpetation of the 8th (and last) book of madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi is the best I've heard. Nine perfectly balanced voices with clear but restrained period instrumentation show off the music in its polyphonic and chromatic brilliance. Solo passages are sung with great attention to the phrasing and dynamic possibilities inherent in the score. The overall effect is one of intimate brilliance.

The enginnering of the recording was excellent. The only disapointment was a dearth of information about the text of the score.

Highly recommended!!

EARLY MUSIC NEWS COMMENTING ON THE 'CONSORT OF MUSICKE': "THEY COULD HAVE NO BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILL THAN IN THE MAGNIFICENT MADRIGALS BY MONTEVERDI'S ATTENTION TO CLARITY OF PRONUNCIATION AND THE NATURAL RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT OF THE ITALIAN LANGUAGE...HAS ALWAYS BEEN A STRENGTH OF THE GROUP." And in addition the Consort is distinguished by vitality, excitement and progressive exploration. Enough said!!!

Montrverdo's eighth book of madrigals was the last to be published in his lifetime and represents a summation of his work in this genre. As its title implies, the eighth book is divided into two sections, devoted respectively to madrigals of war and madrigals of love.

In his long preface to the volume, Monteverdi referred to the 'humours' in man (an idea current in his era) concluding that it should be possible for music to inspire calmness as well as agitation(relating to love and war) in its listeners. In fact,he claimed to have invented a new agitated style in 'Il Combattimento'. With the tender and impassioned style, the 'Madrigali amoroso' provided the perfect foil to the 'Madrigali guerrieri'.

This two CD set is a real treasure for Monteverdi fans. The singers are skilled in this genre and are totally enjoyable to hear. They are:Emma Kirkby & Evelyn Tubb (sopranos)- Mary Nichols & Kristine Szulik (altos)-Paul Agnew,Andrew King and Richard Edgar Wilson (tenors)- Alan Ewing and Allan Parkes (basses).

Note that this 2-CD set of Monteverdi's Eighth Book of Madrigals is incomplete. The Consort of Musicke originally released the Eighth Book on THREE separate CDs: "Madrigali Guerrieri," "Madrigali Amorosi" and "Balli." Not all of the music from these three discs would fit on a 2-disc set, so only two of the three extended pieces from the "Balli" disc -- "Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda" and "Volgendo il ciel" [also known as "Movete al mio bel suon" or "Introduzione al ballo e ballo"] -- made it onto the 2-CD reduction.

Unfortunately, "Il ballo delle ingrate" (39 minutes long) is GLARINGLY (to my mind) missing from the 2-CD set. (This piece features some gorgeous orchestration and powerful writing for the bass.)

If you buy the Consort of Musicke's 7-CD set of Monteverdi, titled "Madrigali," you will get ALL of the Eighth Book on discs 5, 6 & 7. However, note that the 7-CD set doesn't include any text (in either Italian or English translation) to any of the pieces. (But from what I gather -- from another reviewer -- this 2-CD reduction may not contain any of the text either.)

Five stars for the music, four for this reduction.

this is very nice Monteverdi in an economical package but for real Monteverdi affacionados there is nothing like concerto Italiano and the Tasso Madrigals or any thing else by them you can obtain