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Gesualdo: Madrigals, Books 5 & 6 / Longhini, Delitiae Musicae
Naxos

Gesualdo: Madrigals, Books 5 & 6 / Longhini, Delitiae Musicae

$35.99

Details

Composer
GESUALDO
Artist
Marco Longhini, Delitiae Musicae
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
May 28, 2013
Catalog #
8573147-49
UPC
747313314775

About



GESUALDO Madrigals , Books 5 and 6 • Marco Longhini, cond; Delitiae Musicae • NAXOS 8.573147-49 (three discs: 182:40 Text and Translation)


Don Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613), Prince of Venosa (the last of that aristocratic line), is renowned for the mannerist music he wrote, both sacred and secular, and the personal failings that enliven so many accounts of his life. He spent an important few years of his life in Ferrara after marrying the niece of Alfonso II d’Este, a court where he had much company among composers and singers, including Cipriano de Rore, Jacques de Wert, and Luzzasco Luzzaschi, not to mention the celebrated singing Ladies of Ferrara. He had grown up in similar surroundings in Venosa, where one of his teachers was Pomponio Nenna.


Another set of Gesualdo’s madrigals has now been completed, the last of several recordings marking the quarter-centenary of his death, although even this last installment was recorded two or three years ago. Marco Longhini’s interpretive approach is just different enough to make this an alternative to the others rather than a competition among them. We have had the old version of Angelo Ephrikian, recorded in 1968 but still available, sung one voice to a part with slow tempos (not as slow as Longhini), stylistically obsolete in a new era of Baroque interpretation. The other complete set came from Kassiopeia ( Fanfare 33:4) with considerably faster tempos but a keen sense of style. Longhini has now provided the third complete set, including for good measure the few other secular works published separately. Several other directors have recorded complete books, perhaps hoping to complete all six, among them Harry van der Kamp (29:3), Anthony Rooley (8:2), and those mentioned below.


This collection is striking for its departure from the performance practice of the first four books, issued one disc at a time (34: 1, 34:5, 35:3, 36:2). In each of those discs, he acknowledged an alternative performance practice by using harpsichord or theorbo to accompany half of the madrigals, leaving the rest unaccompanied, as all other recordings known to me have done. In these last two books, the madrigals are all unaccompanied. I find no explanation in Longhini’s lengthy and informative notes to indicate why his practice in the first four books has not continued here.


Tempos are again an obvious measure of the difference among competing versions of these madrigals. In Book 5, the northerners, Kassiopeia (33:4) and Hilliard (35:6), take about 55 minutes in all, while among the Italians, La Venexiana (29:2) takes 64 minutes and Longhini 83 minutes. Book 6 is similar, for Kassiopeia (also 33:4) is 67 minutes, La Compagnia del madrigali (36:6) is 78 minutes, and Longhini is 100 minutes. The very first madrigal in Book 6, Se la mia morte brami , is exactly twice as long here as in Kassiopeia’s. I would rather hear it too slow than too fast, but note that the recent La Compagnia del Madrigale version is a moderate four minutes. So it goes for every selection, if not exactly a 2:1 ratio. To be sure, all the cited versions are listenable or better, and on the fast side the Hilliard’s Book 5 is exquisite. Choosing moderation, it may be noted that La Venexiana’s Book 4 (24:3) may be added to their Book 5 and La Compagnia’s Book 6 to encompass lovely renditions of half the total. On the other hand, do not overlook Longhini’s extensive and literate notes (in fluent translations) in each issue, treating both music and biography at considerable length.


All of the recordings cited are sung very well and recorded up close. If you started collecting Longhini, don’t hesitate to complete the set. Naxos prints texts and English translations in the booklets as well as posting them online, unlike for some of their other recent issues.


FANFARE: J. F. Weber

Tracklist 44 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Gioite voi col canto 04:19
    Track
    1
    Title
    Gioite voi col canto
    Duration
    04:19
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  3. 2 S'io non miro non moro 04:18
    Track
    2
    Title
    S'io non miro non moro
    Duration
    04:18
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  4. 3 Itene, o miei sospiri 04:17
    Track
    3
    Title
    Itene, o miei sospiri
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  5. 4 Dolcissima mia vita 03:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    Dolcissima mia vita
    Duration
    03:43
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  6. 5 O dolorosa gioia 04:49
    Track
    5
    Title
    O dolorosa gioia
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  7. 6 Qual fora, donna, un dolce Ohime 02:58
    Track
    6
    Title
    Qual fora, donna, un dolce Ohime
    Duration
    02:58
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  8. 7 Felicissimo sonno 04:17
    Track
    7
    Title
    Felicissimo sonno
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  9. 8 Se vi duol il mio duolo 04:46
    Track
    8
    Title
    Se vi duol il mio duolo
    Duration
    04:46
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  10. 9 Occhi del mio cor vita 03:35
    Track
    9
    Title
    Occhi del mio cor vita
    Duration
    03:35
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  11. 10 Languisce al fin chi da la vita parte 05:01
    Track
    10
    Title
    Languisce al fin chi da la vita parte
    Duration
    05:01
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  12. 11 Merce grido piangendo 06:13
    Track
    11
    Title
    Merce grido piangendo
    Duration
    06:13
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  13. 12 O voi, troppo felici 02:36
    Track
    12
    Title
    O voi, troppo felici
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  14. 13 Correte, amanti, a prova 03:40
    Track
    13
    Title
    Correte, amanti, a prova
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  15. 14 Asciugate i begli occhi 05:17
    Track
    14
    Title
    Asciugate i begli occhi
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  16. 15 Tu m'uccidi, oh crudele 04:49
    Track
    15
    Title
    Tu m'uccidi, oh crudele
    Duration
    04:49
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  17. 16 Deh, coprite il bel seno 03:23
    Track
    16
    Title
    Deh, coprite il bel seno
    Duration
    03:23
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  18. 17 Poiche l'avida sete 02:30
    Track
    17
    Title
    Poiche l'avida sete
    Duration
    02:30
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  19. 18 Ma tu cagion 03:39
    Track
    18
    Title
    Ma tu cagion
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  20. Disc 2
  21. 1 O tenebroso giorno 03:08
    Track
    1
    Title
    O tenebroso giorno
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  22. 2 Se tu fuggi, io non resto 02:21
    Track
    2
    Title
    Se tu fuggi, io non resto
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  23. 3 T'amo mia vita, la mia cara vita 03:07
    Track
    3
    Title
    T'amo mia vita, la mia cara vita
    Duration
    03:07
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  24. 4 Se la mia morte brami 06:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    Se la mia morte brami
    Duration
    06:43
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  25. 5 Belta, poi che t'assenti 05:17
    Track
    5
    Title
    Belta, poi che t'assenti
    Duration
    05:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  26. 6 Tu piangi, o Filli mia 05:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    Tu piangi, o Filli mia
    Duration
    05:19
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  27. 7 Resta di darmi noia 05:23
    Track
    7
    Title
    Resta di darmi noia
    Duration
    05:23
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  28. 8 Chiaro risplender suole 06:07
    Track
    8
    Title
    Chiaro risplender suole
    Duration
    06:07
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  29. 9 Io parto, e non più dissi 04:31
    Track
    9
    Title
    Io parto, e non più dissi
    Duration
    04:31
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  30. 10 Mille volte il di moro 05:20
    Track
    10
    Title
    Mille volte il di moro
    Duration
    05:20
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  31. 11 O dolce mio tesoro 04:22
    Track
    11
    Title
    O dolce mio tesoro
    Duration
    04:22
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  32. 12 Deh, come invan sospiro 05:11
    Track
    12
    Title
    Deh, come invan sospiro
    Duration
    05:11
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  33. 13 Io pur respiro in così gran dolore 04:42
    Track
    13
    Title
    Io pur respiro in così gran dolore
    Duration
    04:42
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  34. 14 Alme d'Amor rubelle 02:28
    Track
    14
    Title
    Alme d'Amor rubelle
    Duration
    02:28
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  35. 15 Candido e verde fiore 03:11
    Track
    15
    Title
    Candido e verde fiore
    Duration
    03:11
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  36. Disc 3
  37. 1 Ardita Zanzaretta 04:40
    Track
    1
    Title
    Ardita Zanzaretta
    Duration
    04:40
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  38. 2 Ardo per te, mio bene 04:11
    Track
    2
    Title
    Ardo per te, mio bene
    Duration
    04:11
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  39. 3 Ancide sol la morte 03:44
    Track
    3
    Title
    Ancide sol la morte
    Duration
    03:44
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  40. 4 Quel no crudel che la mia speme ancise 03:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    Quel no crudel che la mia speme ancise
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  41. 5 Moro, lasso, al mio duolo 05:43
    Track
    5
    Title
    Moro, lasso, al mio duolo
    Duration
    05:43
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  42. 6 Volan quasi farfalle 03:17
    Track
    6
    Title
    Volan quasi farfalle
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  43. 7 Al mio gioir il ciel si fa sereno 02:44
    Track
    7
    Title
    Al mio gioir il ciel si fa sereno
    Duration
    02:44
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  44. 8 Tu segui, o bella Clori 03:29
    Track
    8
    Title
    Tu segui, o bella Clori
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  45. 9 Ancor che per amarti 04:17
    Track
    9
    Title
    Ancor che per amarti
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  46. 10 Gia piansi nel dolore 03:16
    Track
    10
    Title
    Gia piansi nel dolore
    Duration
    03:16
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini
  47. 11 Quando ridente e bella 02:59
    Track
    11
    Title
    Quando ridente e bella
    Duration
    02:59
    Composer
    Carlo Gesualdo
    Ensemble
    Delitiæ Musicæ
    Conductor
    Marco Longhini