Christina Pluhar states: "Monteverdi's most admirable trait is the enormous diversity of compositional techniques that he masters and interweaves with supreme skill. Our aim in this recording is to bring out the varieta of his secular compositions. The modernity that runs like a constant thread through his pieces and makes his music seem timeless even in the twenty-first century is selfevident if one considers, for example, his use of ostinato basses. Jazz musicians are supposed to have 'invented' the walking bass in the 1940s, but already in Monteverdi we find ostinato basses which diverge from the standard ostinatos of the seventeenth century, that are unique of their kind and sound extremely modern." The BBC Magazine reviews the performance as "technical perfection". The easy informality with each other and the music, with which these pieces are performed, makes for a captivating listen. One of the most exciting Baroque performances to hit the record shelves this year. A Must Listen."

Ensemble: L'Arpeggiata. Conductor: Christina Pluhar. Soloists: Johannette Zomer, Pino De Vittorio, Hans Jörg Mammel.

Complete Track List:

1 Avrilla mia (2'58)
2 O fronte serena (2'35)
3 Occhi soli d'amore (3'28)
4 Sinfonia 9 (5'29)
5 Ite sospiri miei (1'56)
6 Sonino, scherzino (1'27)
7 Io parto (2'37)
8 O cor sempre dolente (2'10)
9 L'Arpeggiata (2'42)
10 Galliarda prima (2'02)
11 Passacaglia (1'26)
12 Alma mia, dove t'en vai (1'59)
13 Sinfonia 8 (1'46)
14 Lacrime estreme (1'14)
15 Sinfonia 15 (2'29)
16 Tu che pallido (3'52)
17 Senso fallace (1'40)
18 Che fai tu (2'47)
19 Sinfonia 18 (6'27)
20 Ai conviti, alle nozze (1'42)
21 Tarantella di Sannicandro (3'13)
22 Figlio dormi (7'13)