There have been quite a few recordings of this monumental sacred music work, which was the only one in that category composed by Monteverdi during his time at the court of Mantua, and published in 1610. This is probably the most thoroughly researched and accurately performed of all, but my vote still goes to the astoundingly spectacular Venetian Vespers of 1643 conducted by Paul McCreesh on the Archive label – which uses portions of this 1610 Vespers plus works by Cavalli, Rigatti and Grandi, which were performed in Venice for the Feast of the Annunciation at San Marco Cathedral in 1643. You should have both.
This recording was actually made in 1989 for the Astree label, using only a pair of B & K omnidirectional mikes, and recorded in exactly the same space in which Monteverdi’s musicians had performed the work in 1610: the basilica of Santa Barbara in Mantua. Savell resisted the urge to remaster this two-channel original to 5.0 surround. Up to 60 performers were involved in the recording; some were placed on tiers to adapt them to the strengths and character of each section of the Vespers. They had to deal with extreme cold and fatigue – often recording all night until the early morning. The solo singers, including Montserrat Figueras, Gerd Turk and Pietro Panoli, are superb, and the emotional drama of all the portions of this watershed work in the Marian tradition is conveyed convincingly by Savall and his performers.
Monteverdi pulled out all the stops for this impressive liturgical work. He used freer counterpoint than normal, and a variety of vocal settings – a sort of hierarchy of voices. It often reaches – as in the multi-voiced sections of the closing Magnificat – ecstatic heights. The instrumental sections are equally impressive. A complete libretto is included in several languages in the 164-page booklet. The whole packaging is an example of the lavish materials in every AliaVox release – surely the leaders in the field.
Track Listings:
Intonatio: Deus in adiutorium
Responsorium : Domine ad adiuvandum
Antiphona: Angelicam vitam
Psalmus 109: Dixit Dominus
Concerto: Nigra sum
Antiphona: ln Dei orto sata
Psalmus 112: Laudate pueri
Concerto: Pulchra es
Antiphona: Paterni oblita amoris
Psalmus 121: Laetatus sum
Concerto: Duo Seraphim
Antiphona: ln Sancte Trinitatis
Psalmus 126: Nisi Dominus
Concerto: Audi Cœlum
Antiphona: Trinitate venerata
Psalmus 147: Lauda Jerusalem
Sonata sopra Sancta Maria
Hymnus: Ave maris stella
Antiphona: Hodie beata Barbara
Magnificat 1
Hymnus: Ave maris stella
Antiphona: Hodie beata Barbara
Magnificat
– John Sunier
