Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
You might think that two-and-a-half hours of Monteverdi madrigals would become tiresome or repetitive, but think again: here is a composer whose ability to combine voices and instruments (actually, it’s conductor Rene Jacobs who, for the most part, has chosen the instruments, which include strings, trombones, cornets, organ, and percussion--brilliantly, colorfully, and dramatically) became greater as he aged, and these are among his latest works. Some pieces are long and dramatic, indeed, operatic: Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda is sung to us by baritone Victor Torres with such urgency that it might be compared with an old Orson Welles radio drama. The subtitle of the collection—"Madrigals of War and Love"--really tells it all; fascinatingly, the warring within a lover’s breast is just as passionate as true battle. The texts, some by such luminaries as Petrarch and Tasso are as worthy as the music, and Monteverdi’s great gift--his ability to wed words to music--is in evidence in all of these works. Emotions run from self-pity to adoration to rage, and Jacobs and his band of singers--every one a virtuoso--make each come to life. Their technical skill, comprising seemingly endless breath, stunning legato, and every embellishment known to the Renaissance and Baroque, is matched by the loveliness and expressive quality of their tone. This is a perfect collection, ravishingly conceived, recorded, and performed. --Robert Levine

Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs, Music, Claudio Monteverdi, René Jacobs, Bernarda Fink, Kobie van Rensburg, John Bowen, Victor Torres, Renaud Delaigue, Antonio Abete, Salomé Haller, Maria Cristina Kiehr, Jeremy Ovenden, Concerto Köln, Ballet, Baroque Ballet, Choral, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Classical Vocals, Italian Baroque Opera, Madrigal, Opera

Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs
Average customer rating:

At times, great and at other times...well... er.....

Monteverdi used 'cornets'?!

Monteverdi - Madrigali guerrieri ed amorosi / Concerto Köln, Jacobs
Salomé Haller , Maria Cristina Kiehr , Jeremy Ovenden , and Concerto Köln
Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Josquin Desprez: Missa Fortuna Desperata

Monteverdi: Selva morale e spirituale

Messe de Notre Dame (Guillaume de Machaut)/ Ensemble Organum (Marcel Peres)

Hildegard von Bingen: O Jerusalem

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico

ASIN: B00006L7TB
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Altri Canti D'Amore, Tenero Arciero
Hor Che 'L Ciel E La Terra E 'L Vento Tace
Gira Il Nemico Insidioso Amore
Se Vittorie Si Belle
Armato Il Cor D'adamantina Fede
Ogni Amante E Guerrier: Nel Suo Gran Regno
Ardo, Avvampo
Il Combattimento Di Tancredi E Clorinda
Introdutione Al Ballo E Ballo
Altri Canti Di Marte E Di Sua Schiera

Tracks:

Vago Augelletto
Mentre Vaga Angioletta
Ardo E Scoprir, Ahi Lasso, Io Non Ardisco
O Sia Tranquillo Il Mare O Pien D'orgoglio
Ninfa Che, Scalza Il Piede
Dolcissimo Uscignolo
Chi Vol Haver Felice E Lieto Il Core
Lamento Della Ninfa. Non Havea Febo Ancora
Perche Ten Fuggi, O Fillide
Non Partir, Ritrosetta
Su, Su, Su, Pastorelli Vezzosi
De L'implacabil Dio
Udite, Donne, Udite!
Bella Madre D'Amor
Ecco Ver Noi L'addolorate Squadre
Ahi Troppo Ahi Troppo E Duro!

Amazon.com

You might think that two-and-a-half hours of Monteverdi madrigals would become tiresome or repetitive, but think again: here is a composer whose ability to combine voices and instruments (actually, it's conductor Rene Jacobs who, for the most part, has chosen the instruments, which include strings, trombones, cornets, organ, and percussion--brilliantly, colorfully, and dramatically) became greater as he aged, and these are among his latest works. Some pieces are long and dramatic, indeed, operatic: Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda is sung to us by baritone Victor Torres with such urgency that it might be compared with an old Orson Welles radio drama. The subtitle of the collection—"Madrigals of War and Love"--really tells it all; fascinatingly, the warring within a lover's breast is just as passionate as true battle. The texts, some by such luminaries as Petrarch and Tasso are as worthy as the music, and Monteverdi's great gift--his ability to wed words to music--is in evidence in all of these works. Emotions run from self-pity to adoration to rage, and Jacobs and his band of singers--every one a virtuoso--make each come to life. Their technical skill, comprising seemingly endless breath, stunning legato, and every embellishment known to the Renaissance and Baroque, is matched by the loveliness and expressive quality of their tone. This is a perfect collection, ravishingly conceived, recorded, and performed. --Robert Levine

Customer Reviews:

At times, great and at other times...well... er............2003-08-27

First things first.
'Cornet', with a single T, is a perfectly acceptable spelling of the word for the Baroque cornetto - cornett, cornetta, cornèta, Kornett, cornet à bouquin, corno, cornio, Zink, Zinge, Zinggen and Recht Chor-Zink (et cetera) are all historical variations. The spelling with the single T was the original spelling - the double T spelling was adopted in the 20th century to save confusion with the cornett's modern brass band name sake.

Okay! So what's this CD like?
Well, its pretty good and much of it is very good. The music is 'orchestrated' with cornet(t)s, trombones, a dulcian and percussion - as well as the violins, viols and continuo mentioned by the composer. Maybe René Jacobs is suggesting that this music might have been performed like this for an aristocratic audience? Maybe, maybe not, however, Monteverdi and/or his publisher only suggest strings and continuo in the instrumental forces needed to perform this music. The cornetts and sackbuts sound splendid in madrigals like 'Altri canti d'Amor' even if their inclusion would have surprised Claudio Monteverdi! The string and continuo groups play very well and very idiomatically.

This brings us to the question of the voices used. Some of the singers are simply too operatic in their approach for this kind of music. One of the tenors sings in a highly charged way that would not be out of place in 19th century Italian opera. Bernarda Fink, as usual, uses too much vibrato - more than one would reasonably expect in a modern performance of Mozart or, indeed, Verdi - let alone Monteverdi! However, there is some great singing here, too - Maria Cristina Kiehr is an excellent Monteverdian. When the voices all sing together, as in 'Altri Canti d'Amore', the voices tend to jar and there is little sense of ensemble. We are presented with a group of not terribly compatible soloists singing together rather than a traditional madrigal vocal ensemble. Of course, this is my response to this recording and others may be delighted with this approach.

This is the first truly complete L'ottavo libro de madrigali available in one set on two CDs and for that reason it is a worthy introduction to this music.

Alessandrini's group and Anthony Rooley's The Consort of Musicke have also recorded these works and I have enjoyed all these different interpretations. Jacobs can be perverse and wayward in his interpretations but he can also make the music sing and dance like no one else. I will continue to enjoy most of his opera recordings and most of this madrigal set.

Monteverdi used 'cornets'?!.......2003-04-02

Though I have not listened to this particular CD of Monteverdi's Madrigali guerrieri et amoroso, I'm certain that cornets, the modern small brass instrument used in marching bands would not be appropriate. A cornett (or cornetti) the Renaissance wind instrument, made of wood and covered in leather, was used by Monteverdi, and would be quite appropriate, and I think that is what is being used in the CD.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

East Autumn Grin [Extra tracks]

Lifelong Friend

Good Time Tonite

Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath

Knoxville Girls

I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston Story

electronicspartner.com Music: "Until The End Of Time"

Krebs: Organ Works in the Style of Bach

Help The People

Jingle Bell Jazz

newreleasebooks.com Music: #1 Record/Radio City

Entiendeme

Hecha Para Bailar

Good Time Blues

A Whisper in the Thunder