Selva morale e spirituali — Sacred music of Claudio Monteverdi

Photo: Thomas Zwillinger

Selva morale e spirituale, published in 1641, is a collection of sacred works by the Italian baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643). The book is dedicated to Eleonora Gonzaga, the widow of Emperor Ferdinand II and daughter Vincenzo Gonzaga (Monteverdi's former master in Mantua) and his last published work. Similar to his worldly masterpiece Madrigali guerrieri et amorosi, which appeared in 1638, it contains an impressive compilation of pieces that were written over a long time, probably in Venice during Monteverdi's years as Kapellmeister of San Marco, for all sorts of ensembles: for solo voice with continuo up to eight singers plus violins and other instruments. With its colors and variations, Monteverdi's sacred music is equall as dramatic and enthralling as his secular works.

Performers: Sabine Lutzenberger — soprano / Kamila Mazalová — alto / Bernd Oliver Fröhlich — tenor / Joel Frederiksen — bass / N.N. — violin / Johannes Heim — violin / Sven Schwannberger — theorbo / Michael Eberth – organ