MONTEVERDI: Madrigals, Book 5

Delitiæ Musicæ, Longhini, Marco

8.555311

Just as Monteverdi's Fifth Book of Madrigals (1605) followed on from his ground-breaking Fourth Book (1603) with further stylistic innovations (most importantly the use of a basso continuo line in the final six pieces of the collection), so too does Delitiae Musicae continue to build on its innovative series (the ensemble is recording the complete Monteverdi madrigals for Naxos using only male singers) with a startling recording of the same.
And as with previous volumes in the series, the same qualities of clarity of diction, purity of tone and precision of ensemble paradoxically serve to underscore the psychological and erotic implications of the madrigals more effectively than many a more full-blooded approach. Every emotional fluctuation is registered, often coming as quite a shock (like, for example the slide from consonance to dissonance in the first line of 'M'e pili dolce il penar per Amarilli'). The discreet use of a continuo instrument throughout, even when not required, also pays expressive dividends, as when a harp flourish lights up the line" quand' anima pili bella e pili gradita" ("when a soul most beautiful and most welcome") in 'Era l'anima mia'; this extra colouring also serves as a thread linking the more polyphonic madrigals with the stile nuovo concerted pieces later in the recording. At Naxos' bargain price, I see no excuse for not adding this to your collection. • William Yeoman, Limelight, December 2006

CD x 1

Naxos

01/06/2006

747313531127

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