Search - Orlande de Lassus, Paul van Nevel, Huelgas Ensemble :: Lassus: Il Canzoniere di Messer Francesco Petrarca

Totally gorgeous

Sator | Sydney, Australia | 07/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Orlando Lassus (1532- 1594) is a Renaissance composer who truly stands out as being one of the outstanding Humanist artists of his age. Although Flemish by birth, he was one of the most cosmopolitan composers of his age, who spoke several languages and worked variously in Palermo, Mantua, Milan, Naples, Florence, Rome, Antwerp and lastly in Munich. If you go to Munich, even today you will find that the famous Hofbräuhaus (that famous haunt of Oktoberfest revellers) stands on none other than Orlando Platz, named in honour of Lassus. Of all Renaissance composers he stands out as the one who wrote the most sensuously appealling music which nonetheless maintains enormous depth and richness. As a child prodigy who went on to write effortlessly inspired music he seriously rivals Mozart. In fact as an unusually talented child, gifted with a beautiful voice, he was kidnaped no less than three times for other choirs. After the third attempt, in 1544, his parents finally gave up their 12 year old son to Ferdinand Gonzaga, Viceroy of Sicily.



It is entirely appropriate than Lassus should also have chosen the texts of the Humanist poet Francesco Petrarca. Over a period of almost fourty years, Lassus remained devoted to Petrarca and continued to explore his texts over this period of time. The results were madrigals of great harmonic depth and subtlety.



The performances here present a wonderful case for Lassus as one of the greatest of madrigalists amongst composers of the Seconda Prattica. The style here is very different from the more florid arioso style of the younger generation, being more subdued and introspective. However the results here are simply gorgeous. The effortless melodic line that Lassus commands is simply divine and makes immensely attractive listening. In fact this lovely CD is terribly hard to stop listening to!



An essential Lassus CD if there ever was one."

Irresistible!

Musicus | Oslo, Norway | 03/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are new to renaissance music, this could be the perfect introduction. Very beautiful, easy listening. Enjoy!"