Monteverdi: Vespro Della Beata Vergine

? 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.