Reviewed by Simon Carpenter

Venice's now secure place in musical history began in 1527 when the Flemish composer Adriaan Willaert was appointed choirmaster of St Mark's. Through his influence the city became a centre for madrigal composition in private houses and academies. Willaert started things going - among his other achievements he also set up a singing school in the city - but the golden age of Venetian music was shortly after him when the Gabrielis reigned supreme. They are particularly associated with exploiting the musically dramatic effect of dividing the choral and instrumental forces of St Mark's into groups around the different galleries of the cathedral. This recording includes music for two choirs by Willaert and Giovanni Gabrielli (mostly the latter) and so charts the rise of the city's music up to the end of the 16th century. I had not heard of the artists before, but they sound more than capable outfits. All in all a very pleasant early music listening experience.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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