To celebrate the five-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Festina Lente offers a liturgical and musical reconstruction of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, as it could be heard in Rome at the end of the Renaissance. At the heart of this program: the Missa Regina coeli for four voices, published in 1601 and performed here from the original edition. Alternating the Ordinarium, motets, instrumental pieces, and the Litanies of the Virgin, the ensemble brings to life a solemn mass where the masterful counterpoint of the Princeps Musicae dialogues with the first colors of the Baroque language. A coherent, sensitive, and learned immersion into the spiritual aesthetic of the Counter-Reformation, served by an exceptional vocal and instrumental ensemble.Performed in concert on September 10, 2025 at Santa Maria Maggiore (Rome), this interpretation stands out for its restitution of the complete ritual, including vocal alternations, instrumental interventions, and spatial dynamics faithful to Roman customs. Festina Lente highlights the ceremonial dimension of the mass, offering a living reading where polyphony takes shape in the acoustics of a sacred space. The approach, nourished by the study of liturgical Ordines, reveals the expressive colors and the real breathing of a celebration as it unfolded at the Renaissance-Baroque juncture.Stefano Guadagnini, cantus David Brutti, cornettoEnrico Torre, altus Giulia Bonomo, dulcianaAndrès Montilla Acurero, tenore Diana Fazzini, viola da gambaAlessandro Ravasio, basso Michele Carreca, chitarroneAlessandro Albenga, organoFounded and directed by Michele Gasbarro, the Ensemble Festina Lente explores with rigor and sensitivity the sacred treasures of the early Italian Renaissance and the nascent Baroque. Specializing in the rediscovery of rare works from the capitular archives of the great basilicas, the ensemble stands out for its liturgical-musical reconstructions faithful to the Roman solemnities of the 16th and 17th centuries. Concerts, modern premieres, and award-winning recordings mark its journey - from the "Goldberg" to the "Cinque Diapason" - confirming its unique place in historical performance. Bringing together singers and instrumentalists with sharp expertise (cornet, dulciana, viol, chitarrone, organ), Festina Lente offers a sonic journey where music, rite, and dramaturgy converge.
Amazon
eBay
Rare Vinyl
