Search - Claudio Monteverdi, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Domenico Mazzocchi :: Love & Lament [Hybrid SACD]

Wonderful--Not to Be Missed

Paul Van de Water | Virginia, USA | 08/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The major work on this disc is Giacomo Carissimi's "Historia di Jephte," one of the earliest oratorios, composed around 1650 in Rome. It recounts a Biblical story from the book of Judges that is beyond comprehension--Jephthah's vow, in thanks for a military victory, to sacrifice the first creature that he sees upon his return. When Jephthah gets home, the first person to greet him is his daughter, who must die on account of her father's rash oath.



When Handel set the story of Jephthah a century later, he and his librettist resorted to a deus ex machina (in fact, an angel) to save Jephthah's daughter from her fate. But Carissimi tells it straight. The work closes with a remarkable lament by Jephthah's nameless daughter ("Weep, ye hills") and another by the people ("Weep, children of Israel").



This disc also includes one other well known lament from 17th century Italy and two wonderful discoveries: the "Lament of the Nymph" by Monteverdi, David's lament for Saul and Jonathan by Domenico Mazzocchi, and Mary's lament at the foot of the cross by Alessandro Della Ciaia. Three inventive solo toccatas--for harpsichord, lute, and organ--by Frescobaldi, Kapsberger, and Rossi separate the vocal works.



The Dutch performers, led by Jos van Veldhoven, capture all the emotion of the powerful laments. The instrumental works are equally impressive in their own way. And the SACD sound is incredibly realistic. (My equipment is SACD stereo--not surround.) Classics Today rates this disc 10/10 for both artistic quality and sound quality. A wonderful, imaginative program--highly recommended.



Although Amazon describes this CD as discontinued, I believe that it is still available on the Channel Classics website."