THE PASTOR FIDO OF BATTISTA GUARINI AND LUCA MARENZIO

Battista Guarini’s Il pastor fido was a real literary sensation, which unleashed one of the last controversies of poetic theory and moral philosophy of the late Renaissance. It may seem strange that a story of pastoral loves set in an exceptionally cultivated Arcadia could cause so much argument and resentment. However, under the pastoral veil, in a feigned age of innocence, the poetry of Guarini reveals a much more complex world (one that becomes complicated beyond measure in the course of over seven thousand lines), painfully passionate, and at the same time extremely sensual. 

The plot involves two pairs of lovers, Mirtillo and Amarilli on one side, and Silvio and Dorinda on the other, separated by external and internal conflicts, but providentially reunited at the climax of their adventures. The story is not without twists, but according to some of Guarini’s critics, the long text offered nothing more than a predictable collection of love lyrics. Giovan Battista Marino was fond of calling it a “hotchpotch of little madrigals.” 

Critics also found fault with the structure of the work, with its mixture of tragic and comic elements, and the portrayal of the characters who were raised from humble pastors to the rank of heroes, whose noble affections stood in defense of virtue and faithfulness.

Luca Marenzio:  Il pastor fido

O dolcezze amarissime d'amore / Qui pur vedrolla al suon de' miei sospiri

Quell'augellin che canta

This CD was born from the pleasure and desire to highlight the rarity and delicacy of madrigals and frottole by Philippe Verdelot and Bartolomeo Tromboncino. The beauty and “cantabile” character of this music seduced both Paul Kieffer and myself. Our musical collaboration began in 2012, during our Masters studies at the Schola Cantorum in Basel in the medieval-Renaissance department, in the classes of Crawford Young and Dominique Vellard. We immediately chose to dedicate ourselves to this magnificent repertoire.

On this CD, you will also find improvisations. This manner of expression, genuine creations of the moment, is an integral part of my life as a performer. Since 2000, I experimented and grew this musical practice with my family. My brother, father and I tried out the acoustics of the churches of France and elsewhere in Europe. From these joyful and rich sonorous adventures, the vocal trio Var’s Musica was born in 2003, with the encouragement of the King’s Singers and the advice of their first countertenor at the time, David Hurley. This trio, where I still sing and which is under my leadership, specializes in improvisations and keeps this artistic genre as the highlight of our concerts.

Thus, from the beginning of this recording project, I suggested to Paul that we include improvisations and his response was enthusiastic. They are elaborated by faithfully following the prosody of Italian poetic texts. I chose, among other things, to improvise reflecting the frottole of Verdelot, while at the same time looking for present day colours and sensations.

Zefiro Spira

Zefiro spira (2016) - Gabriel Jublin

Amor, se d'hor in hor (1536) - Philippe Verdelot

Benché'l misero cor (1536) - Philippe Verdelot

MUSIC IN BOLOGNA AROUND 1660

The programme offers a fascinating journey through the sacred and the secular, delving into the lives of two major figures of the musical milieu in Bologna in the mid-17th century: Maurizio Cazzati (1616- 1678) and Carlo Donato Cossoni (1623-1700). For both of these “foreigners”, moving to Bologna had a huge influence on their artistic careers. [..] - Luigi Collarile

Music in Bologna around 1660 - Maurizio Cazzati & Carlo Donato Cossoni

MUSIC IN BOLOGNA AROUND 1660 - MAURIZIO CAZZATI & CARLO DONATO COSSONI

Cossoni: Primo libro delle canzonette amorose Op. 7 (1669) - "Mesto amatore"

Claves is a Swiss record label, founded in 1968 in Thun by Marguerite Dütschler and since 2002 located in Pully. Dedicated to every kind of classical music, Claves likes to give priority to young artists, renowned musicians playing rare repertoires, Swiss interpreters and composers, works previously unreleased on CD, and historical re-releases. As for young artists, the label pursues intense collaborations with the likes of Nicolas Altstaedt, Mélodie Zhao, Maurice Steger, Cédric Pescia, Xavier de Maistre, Joseph Moog and much others.

Claves records