Monteverdi - Vespro della Beata Vergine | Brilliant Classics 95188

Monteverdi - Vespro della Beata Vergine

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Label: Brilliant Classics

Cat No: 95188

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Vocal/Choral

Release Date: 22nd July 2016

Contents

Artists

Ensemble San Felice
La Pifarescha

Conductor

Federico Bardazzi

Works

Monteverdi, Claudio

Vespro della beata Vergine

Artists

Ensemble San Felice
La Pifarescha

Conductor

Federico Bardazzi

About

An enduring masterpiece of early Baroque sacred music, Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine (known in English as his ‘Vespers’) was the most ambitious religious or vocal work to be written before the time of J.S. Bach, calling for a large chorus, soloists and orchestra and employing an innovative array of musical forms. Contrasting the contemplative cantus firmus underpinning the entire work (Dixit Dominus, Laetatus sum) with moments of dazzling theatricality (Nisi Dominus, Deus in adiutorium), Monteverdi looks to the future of dramatic music whilst staying true to the work’s Gregorian bloodline.

Under the guidance of director Federico Bardazzi, Ensemble Felice bring their scrupulous scholarship to the many interpretative decisions to be made, as the order of movements and much of the orchestration is left to the performers’ discretion. Grounded in research into the historical context and practices surrounding the work, Bardazzi has chosen to structure it by placing motets between the prescribed sequence of psalms. The quietude of the motets provides a wonderful contrast to these often grandiose choral movements, and the placing of the Sicut erat towards the end makes a fitting climax to the entire work. Ensemble Felice also come with a full compliment of Monteverdi’s intended orchestral forces including a 30‐strong choir, full orchestra and specially invited brass ensemble La Pifarescha. Working closely with the non‐metric Latin text, the ensemble use changes of character, rhythm and metre to maximise its expressive potential. With performances on period instruments, authentic renditions of Gregorian chants and an attention to detail that even retunes concert pitch to its more historically accurate version, this is a faithful recording of a supreme work.

Recorded 2-5 October 2011, Antico Spedale del Bigallo, Bagno a Ripoli, Italy

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