Monteverdi Vespers

[wizons]

I'm listening to a lot of Monteverdi at the moment as it's the 450th anniversary of his birth. I was lucky enough to hear his 1610 Vespers at St John's Smith Square last Sunday, performed by Vox aluminise and the Freiberg Baroque Consort. It was a magnificent performance and if you like Monteverdi you can listen to it on the Radio 3 iPlayer as they broadcast the concert last Monday at 19:30. 

The Sonata Sancta Maria and the closing Magnificat in particular were superb. The Sonsta starts at 1hour 13 mins and is an absolute delight.

Happy listening.

 

[Von Krolock]

Wrong thread!

 

[tones]

My favourite version is the 1988 Gardiner live performance in San Marco, where it may have been performed (nobody really knows - it might only have been a sort of musical CV to get Monteverdi a new job). It can be seen here:



Not everyone likes the Gardiner interpretation (a lot of purists say "more Verdi than Monteverdi"), but I like it. Always glad that Gardiner got rid of the red nightshirts!

 

[Lawrence001]

I'm quite a fan of the Philip Picket recording, I love Gardiner for some recordings, Bach, Handel but find his Monteverdi too large scale.