Claudio Monteverdi - Vespro Della Beata Vergine (Les Arts Florissants/William Christie)

Performers:
William Christie (conductor)
Les Arts Florissants & Les Sacqueboutiers de Toulouse

Sophie Marin-Degor (Cantus), Maryseult Wieczorek (Sextus), Artur Stefanowicz (Altus), Fabián Schofrin (Septimus/Altus II), Paul Agnew (Tenor), Joseph Cornwell (Quintus/Tenor II), Fracois Piolino (Altus/Tenor III), Thierry Félix (Bassus), Clive Bayley (Septimus/Bassus II)

Review:

William Christie and his ensemble Les Arts Florissants offer serious competition for Philippe Herreweghe's outstanding version of the Monteverdi Vespers on Harmonia Mundi. What you hear (and subconsciously appreciate) is detail, in the sound as well as in the vocal and instrumental lines. Careful phrasing and dynamics complement the rich harmonies and inspired melodic writing, enhancing the work's inherent drama. Because of the Vespers' incredible variety of musical styles–highly unusual for a liturgical work from this period–and due to its exceptional length (90-plus minutes) and the number of skilled performers it requires, many observers believe the work was simply an "audition" piece for its composer and was never intended for performance as a complete work. This well-paced, virtuosic performance makes a good case for the Vespers as a unified, cohesive piece. The soloists rival the best on disc, except for tenor Paul Agnew, whose "Nigra sum" is in an exalted class by itself. –David Vernier

Tracks:

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Tracklisting Disc 1
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1. (00:02:13) LIntonatio: Deus in adiutorium (Bazola). Domine ad adiuvandum
2. (00:08:37) LAntiphon: Dem esset rex in accubito suo (Piolino, chorus). Dixit Dominus (Psalm 109)
3. (00:04:31) LNigra sum (Agnew)
4. (00:06:59) LAntiphon: Laeva eius sub capite meo (Le Monnier, chorus). Laudate Pueri (Psalm 112)
5. (00:03:53) LPulchra es, amica mea (Marin-Degor, Wieczorek)
6. (00:07:11) LAntiphon: Nigra sum sed formosa (Piolino, chorus). Laetatus sum (Psalm 121)
7. (00:04:19) LSonata a due per violino e violone in G minor
8. (00:04:47) LAntiphon: Iam hiems transiit, imber abiit (Piolino, chorus). Nisi Dominus (Psalm 126)
9. (00:08:53) LAudi Caelum (Agnes, Cornwell [echo]). Omnes hanc ergo sequamur

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Tracklisting Disc 2
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1. (00:04:29) LAntiphon: Speciosa facta es (Le Monnier, chorus), Lauda Jerusalem (Psalm 147)
2. (00:03:17) LSonata a tre per violino, cornette e violone in A minor
3. (00:06:20) LDuo seraphim (Agnew, Cornwell, Piolino)
4. (00:06:38) LSonata sopra Sancta Maria ora pro nobis (Chorus, Soprano cantus firmus)
5. (00:08:15) LAve Maris Stella (Martin-Degor/versus 4, Wieczorek/versus 5, Agnew/versus 6, chorus)
6. (00:01:14) LAntiphon: Sancta Maria succuree miseris (Le Monnier, chorus)
7. (00:00:52) L[Magnificat] - I. Magnificat (Marin-Degor, chorus)
8. (00:01:07) L[Magnificat] - II. Et exultavit (Agnew, Cornwell, Altus cantus firmus)
9. (00:01:59) L[Magnificat] - III. Quia respexit (Quintus cantus firmus)
10. (00:01:00) L[Magnificat] - IV. Quia fecit (Bayley, Félix, Altus cantus firmus)
11. (00:02:16) L[Magnificat] - V. Et misericordia (Chorus)
12. (00:00:58) L[Magnificat] - VI. Fecit potentiam (Altus cantus firmus)
13. (00:01:55) L[Magnificat] - VII. Deopsuit (Quintus cantus firmus)
14. (00:01:13) L[Magnificat] - VIII. Esurientes (Cantus & Sextus cantus firmus)
15. (00:01:18) L[Magnificat] - IX. Suscepit Israel (Marin-Degor, Wieczorek, Tenor cantus firmus)
16. (00:00:55) L[Magnificat] - X. Sicut locutes est (Altus cantus firmus)
17. (00:02:44) L[Magnificat] - XI. Gloria Patri (Agnew, Cornwell [echo], Soprano cantus firmus)
18. (00:01:34) L[Magnificat] - XII. Sicut erat (All, chorus)
19. (00:00:38) L[Magnificat] - XIII. Benedicamus Domino (Le Monnier, chorus)