Vespro Della Beata Vergine

Description

Composed at a decisive moment in Claudio Monteverdi's life, as he sought to assert his modern language while aspiring for institutional recognition, these Vespers of 1610 take on a new dimension here. Based on a renewed philological approach and the latest musicological research, this version restores a service in accordance with Mantuan practices, featuring a liturgical order and plainchants derived from local sources. Recorded in the palatine basilica of Santa Barbara in Mantua and with an instrumentation strictly adhering to the score, this interpretation favors a chamber music aesthetic, as suggested by the mention ad Sacella sive Principum Cubicula accomodata — a work designed for chapels and the chambers of princes — revealing the Vespers in their original intimacy, far from monumental displays. Placed back in its architectural, spiritual, and sonic setting, the work regains a unique emotional power: the closeness of the voices and instruments establishes an almost confidential relationship with the listener.