L'Orfeo

Description

For Leonardo García Alarcón, Monteverdi's L'Orfeo is undoubtedly a cherished work. With his troupe of soloists, the Namur Chamber Choir, and the Cappella Mediterranea ensemble, he presents his vision of L'Orfeo: Monteverdi's work is as much the apotheosis of the Renaissance as it is a testament to the emerging Baroque. This is precisely what strikes us when listening to this new recording, which eloquently emphasizes the contrasts between sometimes nostalgic looks to the past and the most innovative expressions of lyrical language. The score, published two years after its premiere in Mantua in 1607, is also marked by these contrasts; is it a snapshot of a performance or the "specifications" intended for future interpreters? In fact, it is both, and this is where the delicate questions arise for those who open this precious document, to which Leonardo García Alarcón provides a respectful, inventive, and theatrical response.