Credits:

London Symphony Orchestra / Noseda, Gianandrea

Description:

The first recording of a requiem by Bernardi, a little-known composer from Verona who worked in Salzburg! After the collection of works by Giovanni Croce, choir director of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice (A439), Voces Suaves and Concerto Sirocco invite us to Salzburg, where Stefano Bernardi, a Verona-born composer who was active in the same period as Monteverdi, was born in Salzburg. This is a collection of works by Verona-born Stefano Bernardi, a contemporary of Monteverdi, who was at the peak of his career from 1628-34, when he was the first choir master of the newly built Salzburg Cathedral. He was instrumental in the development of the new Italian style in Salzburg, especially in the polyphonic and instrumental works such as those included here, and is now regarded as the founder of the music of the region. A testament to the high standard of his music is the wonderful "Requiem," which to this day is preserved in the archives of Salzburg Cathedral. The most memorable part of the Requiem is the "Sequel," in which the famous Gregorian chant "The Day of Wrath" is quoted. This is the world premiere recording of Bernardi's Requiem and Motets.The Sinfonia is performed by an instrumental ensemble, but all of the vocal works also feature organ and sackbutto ensembles, and the music is magnificent, reminiscent of the Venetian school of music of the same period. This rare recording reveals how the Italian style of music took root in Salzburg a century and a half before Mozart and before Biber's arrival. Voces Suaves & Concerto Sirocco is a talented group of musicians who studied in Basel, a major center of ancient music revival. The participation of Sonoko Asabuki, who has been active in Japan and Europe, is also encouraging. Naxos Japan