Gesualdo: Madrigals

The collection of madrigals written by controversial Italian composer Carlo Gesualdo features some of the most fascinating examples of this genre and perhaps the only ones on a par with those of Claudio Monteverdi. To bring to life each of the sentiments expressed in the poems, the composer boldly resorted to numerous types of modulation (the more unusual and experimental, the better), combined with the roughest, bitterest chromaticism and the most striking, captivating dissonance. We will listen to a selection from the Fifth and Sixth Book, both of which were written during the final years of his life and the second of which was published posthumously. In addition to this selection from the Prince of Venosa's two books, works will be played by Michael Finnissy, a fellow countryman of Exaudi, and by Catalan composer Bernat Vivancos, with his six-voice motet Nigra es, pulchra sum. Interwoven in the latter are the texts Nigra sum and Pulchra es from the Song of Songs, using different compositional and vocal techniques, such as non-tempered scales and overtone singing.