Disc. 1

1. Il primo libro de madrigali, 1587

2. Il nono libro de madrigali, 1651

“This final volume of La Venexiana's superb complete edition brings together the beginning and the end of Monteverdi's madrigalian journey. The key characteristic shared by the 20-year-old composer's five-part pieces and the posthumously published canzonettas is his ability to write music that seems to grow spontaneously out of the words. La Venexiana's perfectly enunciated singing does full justice to the meticulously placed gestures and anguished chromatic harmonies.” Elizabeth Roche, Daily Telegraph, 28th June 2008


“[La Venexiana] deliver what remains of [Book 9] with a wonderful sense of line, purity of tone, and instinct for colour and meaning, the quality of the music sometimes lets them down. If there is nothing in the first book to compare with the glories of the vocal writing that emerged over the next five decades, there's not too much in the ninth that's really out of the top drawer either.” The Guardian, 23rd May 2008 ***


“There is some terrific bass solo singing by Matteo Bellotto in 'Alcun non mi consigli' a nice theatrical delivery in 'Bel pastor', and some engaging bravura in 'Zefiro torna'.” BBC Music Magazine, Proms 2008 ****