Credits:

Monferrato, Natale (1603-1685)

Description:

World Premiere Recording! A rare collection of religious motets for alto left by the music director of St. Mark's Cathedral] Upon the death of Francesco Cavalli in 1676, Natale Monferrato was appointed music director of St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice, and of all the composers who held the highest position in this cathedral, he is arguably the most forgotten today. He devoted himself to the composition of religious works. He devoted himself to the composition of religious works, publishing several collections of 20 works between 1647 and 1981. Some of his works were large-scale polyphonies, but he also published three volumes of motets for solo voice. His works were unusually alto-oriented for the time, which is important for the repertoire of the period, and is also evident in the third volume, published in 1666 and recorded here. These motets have a clear and contrasting division between recitative and aria, and are clearly influenced by the opera that flourished in Venice from 1637 onward. This world premiere recording is a unique opportunity to revisit a composer who has been unjustly pushed into oblivion. Naxos Japan