ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
PHILIPPE HERREWEGHE
Carlo GESUALDO (1561-1613)
Tribulationem et dolorem
_Sacrarum cantionum liber primus, Napoli 1603_
Benedictus
Responsoria – Feria V
Miserere
_Responsoria et alia ad Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae spectantia, Gesualdo 1611_
Collegium Vocale Gent
Philippe Herreweghe
Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa (1561-1613), definitely has one of the more spectacular biographies of any Renaissance composer. After having his wife and her lover murdered, he led a rather withdrawn life, and was famously passionate about music – elements that seem inseparable from his extravagant musical style. Whether he was a genius or a dilettante, Gesualdo’s music illustrates the end of an era par excellence. His madrigal books teem with chromaticism, dissonance and expressive word-painting, characteristics that would also become the standard in his religious music. Following two early volumes of motets, in 1611 Gesualdo published his monumental six-voice collection _Responsoria et alia ad Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae spectantia_, intended for the Tenebrae service (matins) of Holy Week. This Passion music is passionate music as well!