Naxos wins the concept of the year award as far as
I can tell for this splendid and informative series of discs matching
the lives and works of great visual artists with the music of their
times. Perhaps the most commendable aspect of this series of recordings
is the excellent, detailed and informative booklet that comes with each
disc. The fact that the music is wonderful and the recordings superb
is a double bonus, not to mention taxing my assortment of superlatives.
Leonardo da Vinci, though self-taught as a painter,
was one of the most complex scientific and artistic personalities of
his age. His life coincided with some of the great masters of the early
Renaissance, including Josquin Despres, Heinrich Isaac and Guillaume
Dufay. Da Vinci lived through and contributed to one of history’s greatest
epochs for art, letters, scientific advancement and architecture.
Naxos have brought together a delightful collection
of music, both vocal and instrumental. It would be difficult to single
out any of these fine recordings, especially since most of the selections
last fewer than five minutes, but there are a few standouts. The Scholars
of London’s rendition of Josquin’s Faute d’argent; The Oxford
Camerata’s Absolon fili mi, from the same composer, and the stunning
six part setting of Salve Regina from Jakob Obrecht, also performed
by the Oxford Camerata are particularly noteworthy for the clarity of
delivery and the sheer beauty and artistry of the singing. The instrumental
selections on the collection are on the whole crisp and cleanly played,
and the unusual colour of these ancient instruments is refreshing to
hear.
I can do nothing but heartily recommend this disc and
from the look of things thus far, this entire series is going to be
a sure winner for anyone interested in comparative arts. I would buy
the discs for the artists’ biographies/essays alone, but having this
mini-encyclopedia with an accompanying soundtrack makes the whole set
completely irresistible.
Kevin Sutton
Oxford Camerata/Jeremy
Summerley