Rossi, Monteverdi: Cantatas / Jourdain

Les Cris de Paris, Geoffroy Jourdain

Monteverdi: Chi vol che m'innamori, Lamento de la Maddalena; Rossi: Disperar di se stesso, O Cecità del misero mortale - Memento Mori

The phrase Memento mori (Latin for "remember that you will die") is a symbolic reminder of the inevitability of death. Catholic prayer oratories in the early years of the 17th century employed the vernacular Italian instead of Latin, a significant factor in attracting more participants. This works in this collection of 'moral cantatas' were designed to heighten the devotional feelings of those attending. The ancient practices of laude, basso ostinato and lamenti, as well as popular new musical genres, including opera, were used as a vehicle for spiritual messages in these works by Monteverdi & Rossi. Geoffroy Jourdain leads Les Cris de Paris in powerful readings of these deeply moving works.

Price: $25.98