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Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Choir & Organ

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Choir & Organ Magazine, March/April 2018 ★★★★★

Not for John Butt the nit-picking over liturgical detail that has bedevilled the study of Monteverdi’s 1610 anthology: swerving that in favour of a concert presentation, concentrating on issues at the heart of the music, he re-examines vexed questions of pitch, tempi, scoring etc with utterly credible, even revelatory results. Vital passion (especially in the concerti), fresh, compelling fervour, luminous clarity and exquisite phrasing flow from ten vocal virtuosi and brilliant instrumentalists. Even if one prefers interpretations with a ripieno choir, it must be conceded that small forces of this quality can pack a knock-out punch – che forza!

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Stereophile Recording of the Month

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Stereophile Magazine, Recording of the Month – May 2018 ★★★★★

This performance, joyously free of eccentricities, interested only in the honest, beautiful expression of music and texts, is heavenly.

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Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – BBC Radio 3 Record Review

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BBC Radio 3 Record Review

The standard of solo singing is outstanding, beautifully ornamented.

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – The Herald review

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The Herald

Stripped back performances under John Butt that are fresh and luminous, lithe and alive.

Kate Molleson, Top 20 Classical Albums of 2017

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Observer review

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Observer

The recording sounds fresh and clear, emphasising transparency without a big reverberant acoustic.

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Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Financial Times review

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Financial Times

Informed by a judicious weighing-up of current scholarship, Butt’s performance is often one voice to a part, giving the music an intimate feel … a virtuoso display of individual talents.

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Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Mail on Sunday review

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Mail on Sunday *****

Any recording by Butt is an event. And this one, recorded with a small, hand-picked choir of ten voices, is special even by his elevated standards.

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Sunday Times review

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Sunday Times

The Dunedin Consort’s 10 voices combine to make a magnificent choral sound.

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Gramophone review

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Gramophone

With so many Vespers recordings out there, this one joins the ranks of those with both a character of its own and something to say.

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Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – BBC Music Magazine review

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BBC Music Magazine

This compelling and insightful album is an outstanding contribution to Monteverdi’s 450th anniversary … Particularly effective is the coloristic sonority of the organ which, by employing the Hauptwerk system, reproduces the sound of an early Venetian instrument.

Monteverdi Vespers 1610 – Early Music Review

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Early Music Review *****

Given the outstandingly tuned singing and ensemble, the result is to expose Monteverdi’s often dazzling counterpoint in rare detail and clarity … a finely conceived and splendidly executed achievement.

This is a first-rate recording … the sounds of the Dunedin’s strings and His Majestys Sagbuts and Cornetts are exceptionally well-blended and beautifully captured in this intelligent and well-produced recording.

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