Monteverdi: Second Vespers for the Feast of Santa Barbara [IMPORT]

Giovanni Amigone (Composer), Claudio Monteverdi (Composer), Paul Nicholson (Composer), Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (Composer), Harry Christophers (Conductor), Sixteen Orchestra (Orchestra), Paul Nicholson (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Paul Nicholson
• Orchestra: Sixteen Orchestra
• Conductor: Harry Christophers
• Composer: Giovanni Amigone, Claudio Monteverdi, Paul Nicholson, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
• Audio CD (September 9, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZET
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #320,715 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Scholars have been trying for years to figure out the occasion for which Monteverdi might have composed his extraordinary Vespers of 1610. At the time he wrote the music, Monteverdi was employed by the Gonzagas, the ruling family of Mantua; while his duties there were secular in nature, it has been suggested that he may have written the Vespers for the feast of Saint Barbara, the Gonzagas' patron saint, and adapted them to honor the Virgin Mary when he published the music. Harry Christophers and the Sixteen perform here a speculative reconstruction of just such a Vespers service. The traditional order of the works has been changed somewhat to match the order of service for the Vespers of Saint Barbara; plainchant, prayers, two sonatas for solo cornett, and a Palestrina motet in Saint Barbara's honor have been added as well. (The hymn Ave maris stella, aimed specifically at the Virgin and with no place in a Vespers for any other saint, is tacked on at the end for the sake of completeness.) The chorus of the Sixteen (two or three singers per part) and the instrumental contingent give a competent performance, but one without much excitement. The soloists, sopranos especially, are a bit shaky (although the tenor duet-trio "Duo seraphim" is beautifully done). Completist Monteverdi collectors will want this unique rendition of his masterpiece, but it really isn't a first choice, even among liturgical reconstructions. (That would be Andrew Parrott's glorious 1984 recording.) --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing recording, April 18, 1999

By	[e-mail] - See all my reviews

This recording has grown on me. At first I was confused, because Christophers uses such an unusual performing edition of this Vespro that it is almost unrecognizable. But the choral singing here is very beautiful, so this bizarre Vespro has finally won me over. Some of the solo voices are not the most distinctive, but they don't have much to sing, since Christophers gives us a choral version of this masterpiece; so ultimately the somewhat unexciting solo singing is not a major drawback. In this regard I must say that I will never understand one thing: how can a director use any male soloist other than Mark Padmore when Mark Padmore is available. Here Nigra Sum, for example, is sung by Andrew Murgatroyd - and who in the world is Murgatroyd and why did he deserve the honor? So Nigra Sum doesn't sound like much. But then Duo Seraphim sounds like a real winner - one truly terrific track in the entire recording. And why? Because it's got Mark Padmore in it. Of course, this is just my rookie opinion. Murgatroyd sings Nigra Sum on Rene Jacobs' recording of the Vespro as well, so there must be something to his singing that gets him votes more important than mine.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best., July 17, 2006

By	Rev (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This is easily the best version out there. Incredibly underrated masterpiece of a recording. Don't pay attention to the editorial- the solos are brilliant and as always Christophers chorus is indescribable- and his plainchant is even better than McCreesh. Best recording of one the greatest masterpieces of western music.