This set gathers together 2 albums released in 1990 and 1994. Each of them definitely established Montserrat Figueras as one of the best performers of Claudio Monteverdi’s vocal music. At this time, she developed an innovative style of interpretation, characterised by great fidelity to historical sources, combined with an extraordinary creative and expressive power that has exerted a decisive influence on the whole historical music movement.

Vocal music before 1800 required a new technical and stylistic approach capable of restoring to the beauty and emotion of the voice, that most human of all forms of expression, the necessary balance between singing and declamation, with an emphasis on the poetic and spiritual dimension of the text.

Contents:
CD 1: Madrigali guerrieri & amorosi
- Altri Canti D’Amor (guerriero)
- Gira Il Nemico (guerriero)
- Ballo: Volgendo Il Ciel - Movete Al Mio Bel Suon (guerriero)
- Sinfonia a Cinque, Altri Canti Di Marte (amoroso)
- Lamento Della Ninfa (amoroso)
- Sinfonia a Sei, Hor Che’l Ciel (guerriero),
La Capella Reial de Catalunya / Jordi Savall

CD 2: Arie e lamenti
- Ohimè ch’io cado (Libro nono)
- Lettera amorosa a voce sola in genere rappresentativo, e si canta senza battuta (Settimo libro), 1619
- Si dolce è il tormento (Libro nono)
- Lamento d’Arianna, Quel sguardo sdegnosetto (Scherzi Musicali), 1632
- Salve o Regina
- O quam Pulchra
- Exulta filia Sion
- Pianto della Madonna sopra il Lamento d’Arianna
- Venite videte
Montserrat Figueras, Andrew Lawrence King, Rolf Lislevand, Ton Koopman