Graindelavoix, Cypriano De Rore

Cipriano de Rore profiles himself from the beginning with tormented madrigals, inspired by the abyssal poetics of Dante. With this, he sets himself against a sweet-voiced, idyllic culture and shows the dark underside of the Renaissance. The new program of Graindelavoix, the second that the ensemble devotes entirely to Cipriano de Rore, follows the composer in the dramaturgy of his dark self-stylization and the Dantean underworld in his compositions and those of his students and followers. De Rore’s most Dantean work is also confronted in the program with other madrigals on text by Dante, from the Italian oral tradition and by the hand of Luzzaschi, Marenzio, Soriano, Renaldi, and others. Graindelavoix is: Björn Schmelzer (artistic direction), Florencia Menconi (soprano), André Perez, Raphael Joanne, and Marius Peterson (tenors), Arnout Malfliet (bass), and Floris De Rycker (lutes). [quote] “The Belgian ensemble, under Schmelzer's inspired direction, performs these pieces with compelling ardour and moving beauty that result in soundscapes which are as provocative as they are richly coloured. Luscious sound quality and some brilliant annotations complete this superb addition to the Schmelzer catalogue.” - Gerald Fenech in classical music daily-