CARLO GESUALDO
Terzo Libro di Madrigali (1595)

01 Ancidetemi pur, grievi martiri
02 Sospirava il mio core
03 Del bel de’ bei vostri occhi
04 Ahi, dispietata e cruda
05 Deh, se già fu crudele
06 Ahi, disperata vita
07 Dolcissimo sospiro
08 Meraviglia d’Amore
09 Voi volete ch’io mora
10 Se vi miro pietosa
11 Crudelissima doglia
12 Dolce spirto d’amore
13 Languisco e moro, ahi, cruda
14 Se piange, ohimè, la donna
15 Veggio, sì, dal mio sole
16 Non t’amo, o voce ingrata
17 Donna, se m’ancidete

bonus tracks:
18 Scipione Stella: Sento dentr’al cor mio
19 Luzzasco Luzzaschi: Dolorosi martir
20 Alfonso Fontanelli: Colei che già si bella

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About this CD

With Carlo Gesualdo’s Third Book of madrigals, La Compagnia del Madrigale continue their dynamic new view of late Renaissance Italian repertory, which has seen the vocal ensemble garlanded with critical praises and prizes since the time of its initial Glossa release – Gesualdo’s Sixth Book – three years ago. Although Gesualdo’s Third Book came out but one year after his first two books, it manifests a transitional style that led into the “late style” of the Fifth and Sixth Books. In his essay Marco Bizzarini develops this idea and points to the darkening of Gesualdo’s psychological profile at the time, which is mirrored in the melancholic nature of the madrigals in the Third Book.

In the texts, joy and grief are frequently intermingled - yet each time freshly considered - and although there are named writers such as Battista Guarini present, many of the texts are anonymous; the inference being that Gesualdo himself might have been their author. Musically, the development is signalled especially by a greater use of violent dissonance than before, and demonstrating that Gesualdo could creatively reflect highly-charged emotions in music through counterpoint: no need for monody for him.

In these exposed and unaccompanied madrigals, La Compagnia del Madrigale blends its trademark expertise and vocal freshness to take the listener on a fascinating sound journey.