Orlando furioso: Madrigali sul poema di Ludovico Ariosto

From its first appearance in 1516, this knightly epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto has represented one of the most successful works in all of Italian literature. This recording, fruit of a meticulous, sensitive musical selection, offers a survey of expressive styles and trends which characterized the musical settings of Ariosto’s poem with music during the period of its greatest musical popularity. With, the sole exception of the frottola by Bartolomeo Tromboncino (1517), the musical selections consist entirely of madrigals published between 1541 and 1588.Arranged according to the sequence of the epic poem, the pieces included here allow the listener to follow the principal events of Orlando Furioso in music, from the very first stanza to the forty sixth and final chapter. The booklet (in four languages as usual) features the sung texts, each complete with an introductory caption setting the piece in its context. Actually the recording constitutes a rewarding new and original résumé of the vicissitudes of Orlando Furioso.One of the preeminent madrigal ensemble of the early music scene, La Compagnia del Madrigale makes its recording debut and launches its collaboration with Arcana. For years the three founding members of the group, Rossana Bertini, Giuseppe Maletto, and Daniel Carnovich, played a fundamental role in Rinaldo Alessandrini’s “Il Concerto Italiano” and Claudi Cavina’s “La Venexiana”.