Monteverdi: O quam pulchra es

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.

In the 30th anniversary year of Ensemble Gilles Binchois, Dominique Vellard is more active than ever. Following his arrival at Glossa in 2007 he is alternating projects of 'straight' medieval music such as the recent L'Arbre de Jessé, with his involvement in new forms of musical expression such as Vox Nostra Resonet. Motets Croisés belongs precisely to the more adventurous aspect of Vellard's art: here he collaborates with Jean-Pierre Leguay, titular organist at Notre-Dame de Paris, and also a notable improviser on the organ. Motets by Monteverdi and Schütz are interspersed with instrumental pieces by Frescobaldi plus compositions from Leguay himself, conjuring up a fascinating sound tapestry, in which the clear and radiant voice of Vellard and dazzling organ interventions from Leguay are vividly highlighted.