Donizetti / Bellini / Rossini / Verdi - Jewels of Bel Canto - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Album Tracks 1. Adagio 2. Allegro 3. Andante 4. Allegro 5. Dolce 6. Allegro 7. Andante Un Poco 8. Presto 9. Adagio 10. Allegro 11. Adagio Ma Non Tanto 12. Allegro 13. Largo 14. Allegro 15. Adagio 16. Allegro

Album Tracks 1. Motet Hodie Christus Natus Est - Palestrina 2. Agnus Dei from InchMissa Hodie Christus Natus EstInch - Palestrina 3. Canzon a 12 - Giovanni Gabrieli 4. Ergasto Appasionato from InchIl Zabaione MusicaleInch - Adriano Banchieri 5. Preparamento Pastorale from InchIl Zabaione MusicaleInch - Adriano Banchieri 6. Gara Amorosa Di Poastori from InchIl Zabaione MusicaleInch - Adriano Banchieri 7. Danza Di Ninfe E Pastori from InchIl Zabaione MusicaleInch - Adriano Banchieri 8. Licenaz L'humore Spensierato from InchIl Zabaione MusicaleInch - Adriano Banchieri 9. I Bei Legami from InchScherzi Musicali a Tre VociInch - Monteverdi 10. Sinfonia from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 11. Alme CH' in Ciel Godete (Scene 3) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 12. Anime Sfortunate (Scene 4) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 13. Alme la Vostra Gloria (Scene 7) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 14. Gloria Sia a Dio Superno (Scene 8) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 15. O Signor Santo E Vero (Scene 9) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 16. Chiostri Altissimi E Stellati (Scene 10) from InchRappresentatione Di Anima Et Di CorpoInch, Act III - Emilio De' Cavalieri 17. Sonata XIII - Giovanni Gabrieli 18. Respond Domine Ad Adiuvandum Me Festina from InchVespers of the Blessed VirginInch - Monteverdi 19. Psalm 109 Dixit Dominus from InchVespers of the Blessed VirginInch - Monteverdi 20. Concerto Duo Seraphim from InchVespers of the Blessed VirginInch - Monteverdi 21. Psalm 126 Nisi Dominus from InchVespers of the Blessed VirginInch - Monteverdi 2

How Fair Thou Art - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525/6-1594) This selection from the Palestrina's settings of The Song of Songs is interspersed by four of the composer's Marian antiphons. Once you get used to the close recording and The King's Singers' distinctive 'barbershop' sound, these performances are highly enjoyable, benefiting from the singers' diffident and yet expressive approach. Just occasionally the very close recording shows the alto voices at a disadvantage, but the singing is generally of a very high quality and the readings of these beautiful pieces is intelligent and sensuous. I take a little bit of exception to the title with it's presumably intentionally punning use of the phrase 'Biblical Passions'-the Passion has a very specific religious meaning, and it's extension to embrace the erotic underpinning of The Song of Songs makes something of a nonsense of this. It is not entirely clear what context Palestrina's Song of Songs settings were intended for, but if-as seems likely-they were for private domestic consumption, then I am sure that the earliest performances would have sounded very much like the present recording. It is interesting to hear the Marian antiphons in the same context-almost certainly written for liturgical choral presentation, they work equally well sung by reduced forces and in a smaller acoustic. Indeed without listening closely to the texts, it would be difficult to differentiate the two repertoires from one another. Early Music Review Album Tracks 1. Alma Redemptoris Matergiovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 2 54 2. Quam Pulchri Sunt Gressus Tuigiovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 2 48 3. Pulchrae Sunt Genae Tuaegiovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 3 27 4. Tota Pulchra Es Anima Meagiovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 2 38 5. Nigra Sum, Sed Formosagiovanni Pierluigi Da Palestrina 3 17 6. Regina Caeligiovanni Pierluigi Da