Customer Reviews

La Pellegrina - Music for the Wedding of Ferdinando De Medici and Christine de Lorraine, Princess of France, Florence 1589

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I found this most recent performance of the music for the wedding of Ferdinando de Medici and Christine de Lorraine interesting to compare to the much older recording with Emma Kirkby, Emily van Evera, the Taverner Consort et al (1988). There is absolutely no doubt that the current recording develops many of the themes which the older recording glosses over, including beauty of sound. There is much beautiful singing on the current recording, including an extremely convincing reading of the song of Arion by Stephan Macleod (although Nigel Rogers' singing of this on the 1988 recording is one of the major reasons to own that recording). The major difference between this new recording and the 1988 recording is the understanding of scale -- the old recording conceptualises this is as a large, magnificent series of tableaux while the newer recording very rarely has everyone singing or playing together. For my money, the instrumentation of the old recording is much more varied and colourful as well. Despite the occasionally very ugly vocal sounds and the relatively colourless though nimble singing of Emma Kirbky, the 1988 recording really captures the energy and magnificence of the music. The new recording is just too calculated and light-limbed.

I found this to be another beautiful performance of the "Intermedi" (pagent interludes) of the historic 1589 wedding of Ferdinand de Medici & Christina of Lorraine- without a doubt one of the most beautiful, hard to find and EXPENSIVE classical works ever recorded. It is a masterpiece, and certainly the origin of early opera. I was really lucky to have aquired a rare BBC video performance by the Taverner Consort of the entire work- including authentic costumes based on actual design drawings from the 16th century. Even the Taverner Consort's CD recording of the performance-"Stravaganza de Medici" is almost impossible to find these days(but hope to find it sometime!).

On original instruments. Recorded in 20bit this CD is of excellent quality. The piece combines theatre and music (early opera) of a high standard. Any fan of Monteverdi's Sacred vespers will love this.

This has got to be, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful works I've ever heard. I've been searching for three years for a CD to purchase and have yet to find one. I often find myself at Carnegie Mellon listening to their copy. Absolutely superb!