Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Trying to compile a double CD that surveys the musical heritage of Venice must be like flying there for a day trip and deciding which monuments and galleries to visit. This splendidly packaged two-CD set focuses on the Renaissance and Baroque periods but even so it would be easy to fill a review with grumbles about who and what has been left out. However that would be unfair and we will instead praise the wonderful music that has made the cut rather than complain about what did not. Both CDs open with music by Giovanni Gabrieli (c. 1553/56-1612). CD 1 has 48 minutes of instrumental music played by Concerto Palatino which is, for me at least, too much whereas CD 2 opens with his "Exaudi Me Domine" from Paul Van Neuel's Huelgas-Ensemble that left me wanting more. The other composer featured on CD 1 is Hans Leo Hassler (1562-1612) who reminds us that Venice was the place to be for up and coming musicians from around Europe. Again, there are other examples but the compiler chose Hassler and we hear his "Missa I Super Dixit Maria" performed by Philippe Herreweghe's Ensemble Vocal Europeen. With all due respect, the really good stuff comes on CD 2 once Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) makes his appearance with "Vespro Della Beata Vergine" (1610) here sung by Rene Jacobs' Concerto Vocale, a selection of "Selva Morale e Spirituale" (published posthumously in 1640) by William Christie's Les Arts Florissants, and also Jean-Marc Aymes' Concerto Soave with Maria Cristina Kiehr, the soprano soloist. In with the Monteverdi we hear a 72 second "Toccata con Minute" by Claudio Merulo (1533-1604). So we have over two hours of music by four composers from several previous issues from some top artists spanning the years 1986-2005. Even if you own some of the earlier releases the presentation of this set with its gatefold sleeve and illustrated booklet make it a worthwhile purchase.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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