The Sacred Music Vol. 4 (Includes 'Beatus vir' & 'salve Regina I')

"Textural clarity and beautifully poised interweaving voice lines. The musicians respond to each other with a confidence that is a joy to hear"
(MusicWeb Dec 2005)

'Robert King's essential exploration of Monteverdi offers yet more evidence of the master's genius. Here the familiar sits with lesser known settings of sacred settings, all works of staggering beauty. King and the soloists capture the essence of this music, with outstanding contributions from Carolyn Sampson, Charles Daniels and James Gilchrist' (The Independent)

'This magnificent series goes from strength to strength, each fresh instalment reaching even more stratospheric standards of excellence than its predecessor' (The Daily Telegraph)

It has been almost a year since the last release in this series, but from the very first bar of the Laetatus sum setting which opens this new volume the wait seems to have been worth it: over a swaggering bass ostinato Monteverdi weaves an exuberant array of melodies-with widely contrasted instruments and voices-to draw us once more into the world of Venetian extravagance. The programme continues with a range of motets, the forces called upon varying from solo voice in the declamatory Salve Regina to multiple soloists and polychoral opulence in the Beatus vir setting.