español | français Medieval Renaissance Baroque Clasicism Opera  5 STARS All periods MEDIEVAL RENAISSANCE BAROQUE CLASICISM OPERA EL CANCIONERO DE MONTECASSINO ALFONS V EL MAGNANIM Jordi Savall Capella Reial de Catalunya Alia Vox AV9816 A+B 1996 - 70:56 min. 15th century Aragonese Naples seems to have become unexpectedly fashionable since in the course of a few months we have witnessed releases by three different recording labels. Following in the wake of new releases by Opus 111 and Symphonia comes this double CD released by Alia Vox which includes recordings made by the ensemble La Capella Reial de Catalunya between 1996 (sacred music) and 1997-8 (secular music). We are also aware that for some 20 years, Jordi Savall has recorded and subsequently toured the world with constantly changing programmes devoted to Renaissance Naples, always interpreted from a Hispano-Catalan viewpoint. In fact, the present album forms part of the series Músicas Reales (Royal Music). Its title could cause a certain degree of perplexity, since it depicts Alfonso V el Magnànim, the first Aragonese King of Naples (from 1442 onwards), as if he were the composer, while the CDs contents are described using the expression "El Cancionero de Montecassino", as if it were one of his works. As is well known, Codex 871 of the abbey of Montecassino is one of the three main extant sources of Neapolitan music of the fifteenth century. But, according to recent studies, the hypothesis that the manuscript could have some direct link with the Aragonese court has now been refuted by another hypothesis, situating its origins in a monastic environment. Moreover, there is no way it could have been related to Alfonso, since it post-dates the king's death. But in Savall's case, there is never reason to pose problems of a philological nature or of historical legitimacy, since, it's as if he was the King Midas of early music. Everything this inspired musician and his extraordinary group touches turns into gold. DINKO FABRIS ABOUT US | CONTRIBUTE   web map - home page - cover Legal warning Copyright 2003, Goldberg. info@goldberg-magazine.com