RELIQUIE DI ROMA IV: Monumental Laments of Domenico Mazzocchi

The Lamento di David and Dialogo della Maddalena by Mazzocchi (1592–1665) are some of the most beautiful and emotionally powerful large-scale laments written for the 17th-century Roman oratory, their solo and choral writing surpassing even that of Carissimi. Equally as impressive, but for smaller forces, is a Latin setting from the Aeneid. In the four-part Nisus e Euryalus, narrated by a tenor as Vergil, Mazzocchi prescribes ancient Greek microtonal tuning to lend further spine-chilling eeriness to an already macabre final lament by the mother of the dead Euryalus. Maddalena Errante is an extended dramatic account of Mary Magdalene, Martha and Lazarus fleeing the Holy Land in a small boat after the Crucifixion. With these four remarkable works are exquisite Latin concerted motets and impressive sonatas for violins.

ATALANTE ERIN HEADLEY - director Atalante’s vocal soloists, instrumentalists and continuo, with the Brabant Ensemble, directed by Stephen Rice