? Dedicated to Pope Paul V, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 is one of the
great masterpieces of the early Baroque. The score features an amazing
variety of styles – grand choral and instrumental, solo motets, two settings
of the Magnificat, duets and trios in the latest monodic style, and above
all, a sense of theatre, which might be explained by Monteverdi’s
composition of two operas at around the same time, L’Orfeo and
L’Arianna.
? Monteverdi’s Vespers are performed regularly nowadays, and count
among the iconic choral masterworks of the Renaissance/Baroque.
? This festive new recording by the Ensemble San Felice, conducted by
Federico Bardazzi, features authentic instruments (cornettos and
trombones!) and a line of excellent Italian vocal soloists.