Search
What's new?
Special Offers
Awards
Online Payment
Harmonia Mundi: HMC901718/20Monteverdi: Selva morale e spirituale | |||||||||||||||||
From the early 1630s onwards, Monteverdi had little by little become detached from his secular occupations – perhaps preparing to take his leave of earthly existence. But when he was already over 70 he set to work once more, publishing his eighth book of madrigals before offering the public a bulky collection of sacred works in the shape of the Selva morale e spirituale. Infinitely more ambitious than the comparable anthologies of his contemporaries, the work is here presented complete, enabling the listener to discover the whole range of Monteverdi’s output of sacred music, from madrigals and virtuoso solo motets to the most elaborate polyphony. In his preface evoking the multifarious “creatures” sheltered by this vast “moral and spiritual forest”, the father of Baroque music was merely emphasising the wonderful diversity of styles so characteristic of his wide-ranging genius. | |||||||||||||||||
For more recordings of this work, click here. | |||||||||||||||||
Press comments: "The performances have all the necessary brilliance and sense of excitement. The three-disc set may be a major investment, but its four hours of endlessly varied listening provide a magnificent return." Elizabeth Roche, The Daily Telegraph "This is an issue of tremendous importance. While most recent Monteverdians make selections from the 1640 publication of sacred works (its title means Moral and Spiritual Forest), Junghänel gives us Monteverdi's 'testament' complete. The collection contains some of Monteverdi's most sublime creations - the first Beatus Vir and the solo Pianto della Madonna, based on Ariadne's laments from his mostly lost opera of 1608, are the best known - and it's impossible to do justice to the riches recorded here in a short review. Cantus Cölln...is consistently beautiful. Johanna Koslowsky deserves special mention for her ravishing singing of the Pianto, and Junghänel's realisations of the instrumental parts are sumptuous." Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times "The performance is quite simply outstanding, the voices and strings of Cantus Colln penetratingly focused yet consistently alive, cornets and trombones of Concerto Palatino warm, enveloping - and impeccably in tune. Junghanel structures the music cleverly, weaving continuity into the constantly changing moods arising from Monteverdi's sensitivity to words, and repetitions of motifs in short, echoing fragments. He's helped by excellent recording, exposing every musical point as voices and instruments lean forward in turn then retreat into the broader texture... An outstanding project, long overdue and unreservedly commended." Performance FIVE STARS, Sound FIVE STARS, George Pratt, BBC Music Magazine | |||||||||||||||||
Gramophone Awards 2002Copyright © 2002-8 Presto Classical, all rights reserved.