GESUALDO
Madrigals, Book 3
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Marco Longhini, dir; Delitiae Musicae
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NAXOS 8.572136 (68:37
Text and Translation)
Don Carlo Gesualdo (1566–1613) is getting plenty of attention lately. Marco Longhini started the latest set of complete madrigals in chronological order (
Fanfare
34:1 and 34:5), but the Naxos release schedule can hardly keep up with him, for this was made three years ago. This is not to blame the label, which is generously encouraging all sorts of performers to record music from every period. The third and fourth books of madrigals represent a stylistic advance over the first two books, eliciting many interesting observations from Longhini. He mentions the obscure and anonymous poets that Gesualdo preferred to set, allowing him the maximum freedom to be creative. He commissioned at least 45 madrigals from the great Torquato Tasso without ever using one of them. Longhini’s approach to these works shows exquisite subtlety, often ending a line with a morendo effect. While I appreciated his earlier recordings, I am more impressed than ever by his achievement here. No telling what heights he will reach in the last three discs. As before, he uses a harpsichord in five of the madrigals, presumably to demonstrate an alternate way of realizing the music.
Longhini adds two bonus tracks, the pair of canzonette that were published in Pomponio Nenno’s eighth book for five voices. Along with the two instrumental pieces added to the previous disc, this makes the project, as he puts it, not just the complete madrigals but the complete secular works of Gesualdo. This series compares very favorably with several competing sets (mostly incomplete), and those who appreciate the mannerist composer will want to acquire this and watch for the completion of the series.
J. F. Weber
