Monteverdi: Combattimento – Les Talens Lyriques

In celebration of Monteverdi’s major anniversary the Festival has staged a few concerts, this one certainly highlighting the incredible talents of the composer. Monteverdi is joyously celebrated by some incredible music with fine playing and extraordinary singing throughout but with some truly thrilling solos. These theatrical pieces are unlikely to be seen fully staged, I doubt many could keep up with the related action required and sing scores this demanding, so a concert performance is what we were given, and for me this was performance enough as one could concentrate on the music without distraction. In Ballo delle Ingrate the major roles were beautifully played but sole mention must be given to bass Nathanaël Tavernier whose resonant tone and colour effortlessly filled the Dome Concert Hall. Magdalena Pluta gave Arianna’s Lament a stunningly emotional performance but not by sacrificing clarity, truly beautiful stuff. Finally in Combattimento di Tancredi e Clarinda Nicolas Maraziotis rattled through his part as Testo with brilliance, a fiery performance that certainly had me on the edge of my seat. One has to wonder how these pieces were ever staged, but what a delight to hear them performed so beautifully by this classy ensemble driven forward by director, organist and harpsichordist Christophe Rousset.

21 May

Dome Concert Hall

Andrew Kay

Rating: