Dunedin Consort - Monteverdi: Vespers 1610 - BBC Radio 3 'Record Review'

John Butt deciding to reflect Monteverdi's idealised imaginary vespers with smaller forces, just ten singers, mostly single voices with some doubling the and very little instrumental doubling outside the given parts... the result is a brisk bright sounding performance and if you miss the grandeur of the larger forces you gain in clarity, transparency and rhythmic flexibility as well. And the standard of solo singing is outstanding, beautifully ornamented. It's typical Butt, he'll have you rethinking how Monteverdi's Vespers might sound and it's a well matched recording as well.