Ensemble Concerto, Roberto Gini - Monteverdi: Sacred Music (2005)

This double CD, which features two pieces in world première recording, can be considered among the most important record publications dedicated to the sacred music of Monteverdi. The impression one gets from hearing these pieces in chronological order is that of the progressive emancipation of the vocal style from the church one, in the wake of the ”modern” concept introduced by opera. The seemingly plain and simple writing of these works tricked many into judging it of modest quality. This, however, was due to the fact that they ignored what, today, is universally accepted: it was implicitly understood by professional musicians that, according to their own skills and competence, performers would add more or less copious and elaborate ornamentations. Performers, under the conduction of Roberto Gini, are specialists of early music.