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A Matter of Love and Death

In his madrigals, Gesualdo assumes the posture of an ardent lover. But as Donald Macleod recounts, in reality he makes a poor husband and an indifferent father.

Donald Macleod continues his look at the life and music of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa. Now remarried, Gesualdo is far from being a model husband. There are whispers that he abuses her verbally, and sometimes physically. Certainly, they spend many months apart. As ever, Gesualdo is obsessed with music, and in common with some of his contemporaries further explores the expressive possibilities of chromaticism and counterpoint in madrigals and motets. Both Gesualdo and Leonora, his wife, take delight in their young son Alfonsino, but will be devastated when the infant falls ill and dies.

Moro, e mentre spiro; Quando di lui ha sospirata vita; Ecco, moriro dunque; Ahi, gia mi discoloro
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director

Illumina faciem tuam; Tribulationem et dolorem; Laboravi in gemitu meo
Oxford Camerata
Jeremy Summerly, director

Sospirava il mio core; O mal nati messaggi; Se piange, oime, la Donna del mio core
The Kassiopeia Quintet

Io tacero, ma nel silenzio mio; Invan, dunque, o crudele
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director

O vos omnes; Exaudi, Deus, deprecationem meam; Venit lumen tuum
Odhecaton
Paolo da Col, director

Correte, amanti
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, director.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Moro, E Mentre Sospiro

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Conductor: Marco Longhini.
    • Naxos 8.572137.
    • Naxos.
    • 13.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Ecco Moriro Dunque

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Conductor: Marco Longhini.
    • Naxos 8.572137.
    • Naxos.
    • 17.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Ahi, Gia Mi Discoloro

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Conductor: Marco Longhini.
    • Naxos.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Tribulationem Et Dolorem

    Choir: Oxford Camerata. Conductor: Jeremy Summerly.
    • NAXOS : 8.550742-.
    • NAXOS.
    • 10.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Laboravi In Gemitu Meo

    Choir: I Fagiolini. Director: Robert Hollingworth.
    • Betrayal - a polyphonic crime drama.
    • 1.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Sospirava Il Mio Cor

    Performer: Kassiopeia Quintet.
    • Globe GLO 5223.
    • Globe.
    • 8.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Se Piange, Ohime, La Donna Del Mio Core

    Performer: Kassiopeia Quintet.
    • Globe GLO 5223.
    • Globe.
    • 15.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Io Tacero, Ma Nel Silenzio Mio

    Performer: Marco Longhini. Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ.
    • Naxos.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Invan, Dunque, O Crudele

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Director: Marco Longhini.
    • Naxos.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    O Vos Omnes

    Ensemble: Chapelle Royale European Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Philippe Herreweghe.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : 901-320.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 5.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Correte, Amanti

    Performer: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901268.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 13.

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  • Wed 28 Mar 2018 12:00
  • Wed 25 Nov 2020 12:00

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