Usually despatched in 2 - 3 working days. (Available now to download.)
The programme on this disc consists of a selection of Italian 17th-centruy vocal duets and trios from the Whitelocke manuscript, with Carissimi’s large-scale cantata I Naviganti at its heart. These duets and trios form a kind of refined entertainment music for intimate occasions: emotionally charged, yet playful songs about love and passion intended for an aristocratic audience. The combination of simple yet elegant melodies and colourful, sometimes even bold, harmonies lends these songs a particular sweetness which is here brought out by a close-knit group of some of the finest performers in the field of period performance today, with Emma Kirkby, Peter Harvey, Susanne Rydén and Mime Yamahiro Brinkmann. They are joined by the Danish harpsichordist Lars Ulrik Mortensen, who also adds variety to the programme with instrumental solos by Frescobaldi.
Anonymous: Parlate per me
Parlate per me
Luigi Rossi: Tu sarai sempre
Tu sarai sempre
Antonio Cesti: Gia son morto
Gia son morto
Luigi Rossi: Dite o Cieli
Dite o Cieli
Anonymous: Pian piano mio core
Pian piano mio core
Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi: Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo
Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo: Toccata ottava
Giacomo Carissimi: Sciolto havean dall'alte sponde (I naviganti)
Sciolto havean dall'alte sponde (I naviganti)
Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi: In partitura il primo libro delle canzoni (arr. for cello and harpsichord)
In partitura il primo libro delle canzoni: Canzona settima detta la Superba (o Tuccina) (arr. for cello and harpsichord)
Luigi Rossi: O Cieli pieta
O Cieli pieta
Luigi Rossi: Lasso benche mi fugga
Lasso benche mi fugga
Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo
Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro primo: Toccata nona
Luigi Rossi: Pene che volete
Pene che volete
Luigi Rossi: Pieta, spietati lumi
Pieta, spietati lumi
Anonymous: Partitevi da me
Partitevi da me
Luigi Rossi: Vorrei scoprirti
Vorrei scoprirti
Anonymous: Occhi Belli*
Occhi Belli
Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi: Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro secondo
Toccate e partite d'intavolatura di cimbalo et organo, libro secondo: Toccata seconda
Anonymous: E' di ragion
E' di ragion
January 2011
****
“Many of the settings exploit the sensual intertwining of two soprano voices over a basso continuo...Emma Kirkby, dewy-voiced as ever, and Swedish soprano Susanne Rydén make exquisite partners, ever-sensitive to the music's subtle nuances and graceful ornamentation.”
26th November 2010
***
“Harvey’s few contributions to the BIS disc, a collection of Italian vocal duets and trios from the court of the legendary 17th-century Queen Christina of Sweden, are wonderfully stylish, but the recital is dominated by the sopranos and Lars Ulrik Mortensen’s spirited harpsichord playing.”
May 2011
“[Mortensen's] captivating harpsichord accompaniments also play a vital part in helping to share the appealing merits of refined miniatures such as Antonio Cesti's duet 'Già son morto'...Luigi Rossi's 'Dite o cieli' is sung by Kirkby and Harvey with marvellous lightness and I particularly admired Carissimi's trio I Naviganti.”
March 2011
“[Kirkby, Rydén and Harvey], all specialists in the historically informed performance of Baroque music, have the light, brilliant, flexible voices necessary to do these lovely works full justice. Kirkby is warmer than the more crystalline-sounding and considerably younger Rydén, but she is no less agile and thus the two sopranos are a perfect match.”
14th November 2010
****
“The vocal colours of Kirkby and her fellow soprano Susanne Rydén complement each other beautifully, while Peter Harvey’s resonant baritone and the countertenor Mikael Bellini add other shades.”
Click on any of the works listed above for alternative recordings.
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