Search - Paolo da Firenze, Mala Punica, Pedro Memelsdorff :: Narcisso Speculando: Madrigals of Paolo da Firenze (1390-1425)

Outstanding madrigals of Da Firenze

06/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an amazing discovery!!! The secular music of Da Firenze is just wonderful and sounds so unusual for that period. These are allegorical madrigals with one of the most virtuoso vocal and instrumental compositions of the 15th century!!!"

The Wall Street Journal says...

leukothea | Seattle, WA United States | 05/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If it's allowed to quote directly from newspapers' reviews, I'd like to type in a May 1 review in the Wall Street Journal. The paragraph appeared on page D10, at the end of the review of opera written by Heidi Waleson. "In a more exotic vein, the Italian ensemble Mala Punica (meaning 'forbidden fruit' or 'pomegranates') perfomed the madrigals of Don Paolo da Firenze (1390-1425) at Corpus Christi Church in Manhattan in the 'Music Before 1800' series on Sunday. Though they are about love and other familiar subjects, their densely allegorical texts, dissonances, spiraling melodies, irregular rhythms and strange bends of pitch make them dark, complex and fascinating. The four singers and small instrumental ensemble (medieval fiddles and keyboards, bells and trumpet), led by recorder virtuoso Pedro Memelsdorff, were mesmerizing, and demanded repeated hearings. Fortunately, the program, 'Narcisso Speculando,' is available on a recent Harmonia Mundi recording.""