Esset

The version submitted by Howard Arman for the Bavarian Radio Chorus is based on surviving Mozart sources as well as on Süßmayr's additions; in several places, however, it reaches new conclusions that are implemented with due caution and humble respect for Mozart's magnificent original. Mozart's Requiem is followed by Neukomm's Respond Libera me, Domine - and for musical, liturgical and chronological reasons, the programme begins with Mozart's Vesperae solennes de Confessore KV 339 (1780), composed of psalms from the Old Testament as well as the Magnificat from the Gospel of St Luke and composed for the liturgical festival of a holy confessor.

The cello was a beneficiary of the remarkable flowering of high culture sponsored by both ecclesiastical and aristocratic patrons in early 18th-century Naples. In 1717, Rocco Greco (1650-1718) became the last appointed player of the viola da gamba in the Royal Chapel dedicated to the treasure of St Januarius, the patron saint of Naples. Both Greco and his colleague Gaetano Francone (c.1650-1717) produced new music for the cello which was suitable for performance within the liturgy of the chapel.

This release continues this successful series. This ensemble has revived the music in one of the greatest collections of polyphonic music in Western Europe.

This disc constitutes the memoir of the concerti of Vespro della Beata Vergine (Vespers of the Blessed Virgin) of Claudio Monteverdi which took place in Palermo in the church of Santa Maria dello Spasimo from the 15th - 17th July 1999 for the occasion of the musical summer (Estate Musicale) of the Teatro Massimo (Fondazione Teatro Massimo). The concerti were carried out by the Teatro Massimo and the regional arts delegation for the town of Palermo in collaboration with the Association for Ancient Music Antonio Il Verso and the Institute of Music History of the University of Palermo. 'Could we have dreamt such glorious music-making was possible? This version has genuine impact, and goes straight to the top of the list of recommended recordings. Monteverdi, or the Vespers of the Blessed Garrido.' Repertoire '…this luminous vision constitutes one of the finest chapters in the history of modern Monteverdi interpretation.' –Le monde de la musique.