Rinaldo Alessandrini, Concerto Italiano – Monteverdi Daylight: Stories of Songs, Dances and Loves (2021) [FLAC 24bit/88,2kHz]

This new recording is like an insert between the books of madrigals that mark the course of Rinaldo Alessandrini’s discography, in his long-term progress towards a complete recorded edition.

Daylight is a continuation of Night, which appeared on the occasion of the 350th Anniversary of the composer’s birth. Not only do we have the same thematic, non- chronological concept – a sort of ‘Best Of’ Monteverdi’s nine books of madrigals and opera arias, augmented by instrumental pieces by Falconieri and Marini – but it also has its own discrete dramaturgy, from dawn to the full sunlight of day, a scenario conceived by the Italian conductor and harpsichordist.

Borne aloft by the seasoned voices of Concerto Italiano and an unusually diverse instrumental ensemble, this sequence of music gravitates towards the rising sun, setting hearts on fire, singing of love, joy, passion, while holding up a mirror to the radiant glories of nature.

Here Rinaldo Alessandrini has set the scene for a hymn to beauty and to love, confessing his fascination with the inexhaustible riches of this music. As he admits, “I count myself among the company of those who are in love with the Monteverdian ideal that everything is theatre: a theatre made up of humanity, an aspiration towards the sublime, and a happy resolution of life’s sorrows through love, the healing power of song, and the energetic exaltation of the dance. This recording is intended as my final, definitive declaration of love for Monteverdi. Having associated with him for more than forty years, I owe him a considerable part of everything I’ve learnt.”

Tracklist:
01. Rinaldo Alessandrini – L’Orfeo, SV 318, Act III: “Sinfonia”
02. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci, SV 40: No. 1.a, Non si levava ancor l’alba novella
03. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Il secondo libro de madrigali a cinque voci, SV 40: No. 1.b, E dicea l’una sospirando allora
04. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Concerto, settimo libro de madrigali: Sinfonia
05. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Madrigali guerrieri, et amorosi, libro ottavo, SV 166: No. 21, Sù, sù, sù pastorelli vezzosi
06. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Madrigali e canzonette a due, a tre voci…, libro nono, SV 177: No. 14, Sù, sù, sù augelletti canori
07. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Per ogni sorte di strumento musicale diversi generi di sonate, Op. 22: Gagliarda seconda
08. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Canzonette a tre voci, SV 9: No. 9, Sù, sù, sù ch’el giorno è fore
09. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Scherzi musicali, SV 245: No. 18, Balletto. De la bellezza le dovute lodi
10. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, SV 325, Act I: “Duri e penosi”
11. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Il quarto libro de madrigali, SV 86: No. 12, Io mi son giovinetta
12. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Scherzi musicali, SV 251: No. 6, Zefiro torna e di soavi accenti
13. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Il primo libro di Canzone, Sinfonie, Fantasie, Capricci, Brandi, Correnti, Gagliarde, Alemane, Volte: No. 3, L’Eroica
14. Rinaldo Alessandrini – L’incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308, Act II: “Sento un certo non so ché”
15. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Per ogni sorte di strumento musicale diversi generi di sonate, Op. 22: Gagliarda seconda, aggiustata a cinque parti
16. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Concerto: settimo libro de madrigali, SV 143: No. 27, Chiome d’oro, bel tesoro
17. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Madrigali e canzonette a due, a tre voci…, libro nono / Sonate, symphonie, canzoni, passe’mezzi, baletti, corenti, gagliarde e retornelli, Op. 8, SV 174: No. 11, Alle danze, alle gioie – Corrente nona [alla Francese], aggiustata a cinque parti
18. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Madrigali guerrieri, et amorosi, libro ottavo, SV 154: No. 9.a, Movete al mio bel suon le piante snelle
19. Rinaldo Alessandrini – L’Orfeo, SV 318: “Balli. Entrata (di Venere e Cupido) – Balletto (di Ninfe e Pastori) – Gagliarda – Canario – Gagliarda (di Marte) – Balletto (di Cupido e gli Amori) – Moresca”
20. Rinaldo Alessandrini – Madrigali guerrieri, et amorosi, libro ottavo, SV 154: No. 9.b, Gli arditi balli e l’armonia dei canti