Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Quel augellin che canta
A un giro sol
Volgea l’anima mia
Anima dolorosa
Sfogava con le stelle
Io mi son giovinetta
Non si levava ancor
E dicea l’una
Ecco mormorar l’onde
O primavera
Volgea l’anima mia
A un giro sol
Anima dolorosa
Sfogava con le stelle
Io mi son giovinetta
Ah, dolente partita
Sì, ch’io vorrei morire
Era l’anima mia
Quel augellin che canta
Piagne e sospira
Ahi come a un vago sol
T’amo mia vita
Amor se giusto sei
Al lume delle stelle
Gira il nemico insidioso

Ensemble Il Canto
Michal Straszewski, direction

‘All the madrigals on the album are small masterpieces, but there are real gems among them, pieces that we experience deeply with each performance. The most beautiful of them is Piagne e sospira to a text by Tasso. The music, enhancing the sombre mood of the poem, triggers intense emotions in the listener. Sì, ch’io vorrei morire, on the other hand, is a perfect erotic, painting the elation of the act of love with music. The terrible despair of an abandoned lover is contained in Ah, dolente partita. On the other side of the mood, one can situate two light, virtuoso madrigals – Io mi son giovinetta and Quel augellin che canta.’ A previously unpublished recording of six of Monteverdi’s madrigals has been attached to the re-edition of the CD. This outstanding performance comes from a concert held on 19 May 1991 in Tours. In this recording, the composer’s genius and the talent and work of the singers miraculously combined..