SACDs - Monteverdi

This set gathers 2 albums released in 1990 and 1994.

Each of them definitely established Montserrat Figueras as one of the best performers of Claudio Monteverdi’s vocal music. At this time, she developed an innovative style of interpretation, characterised by great fidelity to historical sources, combined with an extraordinary creative and expressive power, that has exerted a decisive influence on the whole historical music movement.

Vocal music before 1800 required a new technical and stylistic approach capable of restoring to the beauty and emotion of the voice, that most human of all forms of expression, the necessary balance between singing and declamation, with an emphasis on the poetic and spiritual dimension of the text.

She is accompanied by Jordi Savall on CD1 and Ton Koopman on CD2.

Here is the first re-issue from the Astrée-Naive catalogue for 'Alia Vox Heritage'. One of Jordi Savall's legendary recordings, the Monteverdi Vespers was recorded in the Santa Barbara chapel in Mantova, Italy, the site of the première in 1610.The digipak is a work of art in itself and fully corresponds to Alia Vox's usual high production standards.

The Alia Vox Heritage series will gradually release highlights from the recordings made by Jordi Savall between 1977 and 1997 for Astrée.

2 CDs for price of 1

The brass quintet as we know it is a modern constellation, but ensembles of wind instruments, involving shawms and sackbuts, were a staple before the Renaissance had even begun.

Arrangements of music of this kind still form an important part of the repertoire of most brass ensembles, including Stockholm Chamber Brass. Having earned international recognition for their several recordings of resolutely contemporary works, the five members here return to their roots, in a varied programme.

The Finnish Kaamos Chamber Choir has recorded on this new disc, Valossa - From darkness to light, a cappella repertoire from its varied performance programme. The items range from folk song arrangements, to classical, and from Renaissance, to present day. The emotions and stories portrayed in the songs trace a thematic transition from dark winter days to light summer nights. The present disc is the culmination of a journey lasting nearly five years. The choir is conducted by talented Dani Juris.

“Trumpet Masque” sees renowned trumpeter Jonathan Freeman-Attwood explore his passion for expanding the instrument’s limited chamber repertoire by imaginatively arranging Baroque works previously scored for alternative forces.

In “Trumpet Masque”, Jonathan Freeman-Attwood and Daniel-Ben Pienaar take a radical new look at the 17th century with a compelling vision of repertoire historically far-removed from the traditional contexts of both trumpet and piano.

Through wonderfully vibrant programming and arrangements, this invigorating and warm-hearted chamber duo present music from Dowland to Purcell in an energetic, innovative and 21st century fashion.

The aim of this recording is to open our ears to a period of unequalled variety, colour, regional diversity and expressive freedom: the Venetian world of Gabrieli, the great pre-Bach North German lineage of Buxtehude, Jacobean dances and songs and the great G major sonata from Muffat’s ‘Armonico Tributo’ with its virtuoso and valedictory passacaglia, which appropriately ends the disc.