Italian Music for Lute Vol. 2 (Borrono, L'Aquila, Milano, Ripa)

Star lutenist Paul O'Dette has enchanted listeners with his recordings. This radiant collection of early 16th-century music includes the first recording of 2 fantasias by "Il divino" Francesco da Milano.

"Stunning music, superbly played and beautifully recorded…" - Early Music Review

"Recommended" - High Performance Review


Paul O'Dette has been called "the clearest case of genius ever to touch his instrument" (Toronto Globe and Mail). Though perhaps best known for his recitals and recordings of solo Renaissance lute music, Mr. O'Dette maintains an active international career as a continuo player, performing with today's most respected conductors and ensembles. He is co-director of The Musicians of Swanne Alley, an Elizabethan consort widely acclaimed for its performances of the virtuoso broken consort literature. Paul O'Dette has been heard in broadcasts on stations throughout the United States, Europe, and countries as far afield as Turkey and Hungary.

In addition to his activities as a performer, Mr. O'Dette is an avid researcher, having worked extensively on the performance and sources of 17th century Italian and English solo song, continuo practices, and lute techniques-the latter resulting in a forthcoming book co-authored by Patrick O'Brien. Paul O'Dette has served as Director of Early Music at the Eastman School of Music since 1976 and is Artistic Director of the Boston Early Music Festival.

Mr. O'Dette has made more than 100 recordings, several of which have been nominated for Gramophone's Record of the Year Award. Each volume of John Dowland, Complete Lute Works, featuring Mr. O'Dette on lute and orpharion, received the Diapason d'Or, and the set as a whole (HMU 907160.64) received the Diapason d'Or de l'Année. His recent releases include Apollo's Banquet: 17th Century Music from the Publications of John Playford (HMU 907186) and ¡Jácaras! 18th Century Spanish Baroque Guitar Music of Santiago de Murcia (HMU 907212).