Glossa always follows “microphone in hand” where creative musical ideas are developing, especially in early music, and over the label’s two decades this has often meant turning its attention to the length and breadth that is Italy: think Fabio Bonizzoni in music from Rome, the coverage of the madrigalian repertory from La Venexiana and La Compagnia del Madrigale, the subtle violin mastery of Enrico Gatti, the dazzling vocal virtuosity of Roberta Invernizzi (and not forgetting Paolo Pandolfo’s unique style). In recent years, Antonio Florio and I Turchini have also found a home at the label with their command of Neapolitan repertory. Now, two multi-faceted artists (both of whom have worked with Florio) have joined forces to produce Siciliane: the songs of an island, a journey into the traditional songs of Sicily, using collections brought together by Giacomo Meyerbeer as the basis. The singer is that powerhouse of mood, both vocal and theatrical, Pino De Vittorio (who hails from Puglia), graced with a talent to bring into the present voices from the past across the regions of Italy, whilst the accompaniment is led by Franco Pavan, theorbo and baroque guitar player, director of Laboratorio ’600, music scholar and performer in many fine recordings over the years. [read more...]