Photo: Eric Richmond
I Fagiolini is a British solo-voice ensemble specialising in Renaissance and contemporary music, directed by Robert Hollingworth. It has released 17 CDs and 2 DVDs. It is the only early music ensemble ever to be awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Ensemble Prize.
I Fagiolini have released on Decca the world première recording of Striggio’s 40-part mass, Ecco sì beato giorno (1566) and Tallis’s Spem in alium (inspired by the mass) in a new version with voices and instruments.
It was announced on 17 November that the disc has been awarded this year’s prestigious Diapason d’Or for Early Music – in addition to the same category win for Gramophone in October.
Recorded in the round, the music is provided in stereo and surround-sound 5.1 versions. A 13 minute ‘making of’ film is also enclosed. Visit the full website about the recording with video and sound excerpts.
Daily Telegraph: ***** ‘Terrific‘ Disc of the week
The Times ’40 voices hitting you beautifully left and right plus sackbuts, cornetts, lutes, viols…’
Tutti Magazine ‘Cette partition fondatrice et impressionnante bénéficie d’une mise en place exemplaire par les 40 musiciens de I Fagiolini
. Exemplaire tant par la richesse incroyable des timbres de ces instruments anciens répartis par famille et résonnant avec le lustre d’antan, que par le fondu exceptionnel des voix et, surtout, par l’implication et la passion de tous les artistes concernés par ce projet.
An innovative and imaginative use of live singing, technology and drama which explores Renaissance polyphony in depth.