La Venexiana - Primo Libro de Madrigali - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Le Destin du Nouveau Siècle [The Fate of the New Century] what a pertinent idea for a libretto for the year 1700! This unknown opera-ballet by Campra, premiered at the Collège Louis-le-Grand, foreshadowed the Century that was opening in France, where Louis XIV had been King for... 57 years! Saturn wants to regulate the destiny of this new century according to the will of the people, but some wish to ignite an eternal War, while others celebrate Peace. Campra's splendid music is here marvelously revealed by exceptional soloists, under the direction of Patrick Bismuth. The Europe of the old King was rumbling with war and famine to come, unrest mingled with hope at the dawn of this new century... here is the musical snapshot of this so particular era! Album Tracks 1. Marion Delorme 2. Canticel 3. Canconceta Incerta 4. Serenade D'hivern 5. Va I Ve 6. El Rei Lear 7. Menta I Farigola 8. Els Obercors I Les Petites Collidores 9. Canticel 10. El Gessami I la Rosa 11. Recanca 12. A Muntanya 13. Cocorococ 14. Canco Incerta 15. Divendres Sant 16. Aigues de la Primavera 17. Per Una Flor de Romani 18. Canticel 19. Canco Florida 20. Tragedia D'abril 21. L'elegia D'una Rosa 22. Canco Voluble 23. El Sonet Dels Llavis 24. Quatre Rimes 25. El Gessami I la Rosa 26. Canco D'un Doble Amor 27. Canticel 28. Tres Cancons de Carner 29. Carnerianes 30. Tempos de Poeta 31. Els Somnis 32. Del Cicle Les Estaciones 33. Quatre Estacions 34. Ofrena

The Fourth Book displays an increased tendency towards chromatism, but short of the extreme experimentalism of the two following collections. Amidst the stormy and poignant intensity of pages like Sparge la morte or Moro, e mentre sospiro, there is still room for fleeting accents of gentleness and lightness, traces of luminosity and a certain ease in the movement of the high parts (perhaps an echo of the vocal charms of the 'Trio of Dames'). Thus, this Fourth Book serves as a bridge in Gesualdo's production. The result is a jewel that shines with a light at once brilliant and somber. By the way, does not the surprising façade of Gesualdo's first residence in Ferrara - the Palace of Diamonds - produce the same impression? Perhaps the spirit of Ferrara speaks, in covert fashion, in these madrigals.

Album Tracks 1. Wachet Auf! Ruft Uns Die Stimme 2. Praeludium in F 3. Ein Fleines Kindelein 4. Ach Herr, Lass Deine Lieben Engelein 5. Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott 6. O Jesu Dulcissime 7. Praeludium in G 8. Jesus Christus, Unser Heiland 9. Canzona in G 10. Salve Coelestis Pater 11. An Wasserflüssen Babylon 12. Auf Meinen Lieben Gott 13. Da Mihi Domine 14. Praeludium in G