I have both the Cantus Cöllnmcq wrote:My reference for this wonderful collection of music is the recording by Cantus Colln and Concerto Paladino as conducted by Konrad Junghanel and released on Harmonia Mundi. This conductor is very consistent in this reportoire and this recording was the first complete recording of these works. Recently, there has been a version by La Venexiana (conducted by Claudio Cavina) on Glossa which has been very well received. I have this ensemble's outstanding recordings of the madrigals and I'm looking forward to hearing their take on Selva Morale E Spirituale as well. In my view, this masterpiece stands as the summation of Monteverdi's life and work and contains some of his greatest music. There's a wide variety of music on display, including hymns, motets, psalms and mass settings. It is deeply beautiful, immensely rewarding and I cannot recommend it highly enough.Diapason wrote:Nice one, mcq. I don't have enough Monteverdi, but I've very much enjoyed everything I've heard. Must try to get a recording of Selva Morale e Spirituale at some point. Any recommendations?
My other favourite recordings of Monteverdi's music include Jordi Savall's version of the 1610 Vespers (Alia Vox), John Eliot Gardiner's version of L'Orfeo (DG Archiv) and Rene Jacobs' version of the Eighth Book of madrigals (Harmonia Mundi). Desert island recordings, each and every one.
and La Venexiana recordings of Selva and I feel that La Venexiana's live recording
is not up to the standard of their excellent madrigals and truly wonderful L'Orfeo.
I do like the Cantus Cölln. There is a small but nice selection from Selva as a fill-up on the terrific (and cheap!) Taverner Consort/Andrew Parrott recording of the 1610 Vespers
which I was enthusing about recently. My desert island Monteverdi would have to include Concerto Italiano/Rinaldo Alessandrini in the Eighth Book of Madrigals
and Nadia Boulanger's group in their ancient recording beautifully restored by Andrew Rose/Pristine.