Gabrieli, (A.):The Madrigal in Venice: Politics, Dialogues and Pastorales

'Anyone who is smitten with the muscial traditions of this most fascinating of all cities, should not hesitate to buy this record.'
(Gramophone)

'The singing and playing are thoroughly enjoyable. The program is a sampling of all the types of secular texts that the composer set, though the notes point to the connection of one or more to the 1572 celebration of the great victory at Lepanto over the Turks. The notes are excellent... Highly recommended'
(Fanfare)

'This is a recording which plugs a gaping hole in our knowledge of the Italian madrigal with music of fabulous richness. Together with their recent recording of music by Thomas Tomkins this new release marks a real maturing of I Fagiolini's talent. It's also a good day for Andrea Gabrieli - frankly, no one ever suspected his secular stuff was anywhere near this good. This is quite simply one of the most enthralling madrigal antholgies on the market.'
(International Record Review)

Andrea Gabrieli and his nephew and pupil, Giovanni, were two of the baroque period's most inventive composers and the full extent of their originality - thanks to recordings such as these - is only just beginning to be appreciated.

Andrea Gabrieli provided secular vocal music for all aspects of Venetian musical life. Politically motivated works for civic celebrations, Petrachan and pastoral madrigals, racy dialogues, battle songs and saucy dialect songs each had their place in Venice's intellectual academies, musical households and civic ceremonies.

I Fagiolini is one of Europe's most innovative and entertaining solo-voice ensembles, with a core repertoire of renaissance and contemporary music. The group's busy schedule takes it all over the world, often as ambassadors for the British Council, and it takes particular pleasure in collaborative projects with other artists such as His Majesty's Sagbutts & Cornetts. I Fagiolini receives consistently good write-ups for its Chandos recordings.

PREVIOUS RELEASES
Thomas Tomkins: Music Divine - CHAN 0680
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