Search - Richard Wistreich, Claudio Monteverdi, Anthony Rooley :: Monteverdi: Madrigali erotici

Madrigals in "concert" from Monteverdi's Seventh Book

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1982 release from the Consort of Musicke is NOT included in the 7-CD bargain box of Monteverdi madrigals, and seems to be available only used. Buy it while you can! It's a prime performance from some of the great British voices of the 80s, all in their prime: sopranos Emma Kirkby and Judidh Nelson, tenors Paul Elliot and Andrew King, baritone/basses Richard Wistreich and David Thomas. Since most of these madrigals are in the "concerto" style - that is, solo or duet with necessary instrumental accompaniment - those vocal combinations are extremely critical; each of the pairs I've named could hardly be surpassed. The two tenor and two bass duets are almost indescribably polished and suave.



When Monteverdi published his seventh book of madrigals in 1619, he was well aware that he had broken decisively with the polyphonic madrigal tradition of his earlier publications, for which reason he titled the book 'Concerto Settimo Libro.' These concerted madrigals are built on the basso continuo - lute, harpsichord, or gamba - a structure that would dominate vocal music for the next 180 years and beyond. The obbligato instrumental parts are chiefly for bowed strings. The cast of players on this CD is a kind of 'early music' hall of fame: Monica Huggett, violin; Alison Crum, bass viol; Jakob Lindberg, chitarrone; John Toll, keyboard, to name just a few.



This recording does not include all of the Seventh Book; one can only wish it did. Instead, the lengthy semi-operatic madrigal 'Ogni Amante e Guerrier, from Book Eight, is included. Certainly there are stylistic justifications for doing so. The same madrigal is performed on The Consort of Musicke's 2-CD release of the Eighth Book, Madrigali Guerrieri et Amorosi, with a different consort of singers. It won't be painful, I guarantee, to have a duplication, especially since this version is the better of the two.



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