Yet another exquisite reissue on the Helios label, this time a highly qualitative overview of madrigals from Monteverdi's impressive oeuvre. Peter Holman is one of the great experts in this sort of music and he brings a lovely period flavour to the classic, 'Il combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda' and the rather long winded 'Il ballo delle ingrate' with its long florid lines and exquisite versatility very much in evidence.
Red Byrd are also an impressive choir and I had somewhat forgotten their provenance although this recording dates back to 1991. Previous critical acclaim had also been quite superb so I would expect all lovers of Monteverdi to snap this up at such a ridiculous price.
Copyright © 2004, Gerald Fenech