The Florentine renaissance

"It is not just the architecture of Florence that holds our attention ... This disc, divided into two contrasting sections ... demonstrates the importance of music and how it was affected by Florentine personalities and politics, and it does it, more or less, in chronological order of the fifteenth century ... I am not sure if the Orlando Consort, whose diction is always immaculate, can consistently capture the mood and excitement of this music, but it is great to have it drawn together on one very generously filled disc ... Florence's years of peace and artistic flourishing ended with the sudden death of Lorenzo in April 1492. One of the last tracks here is Isaac's lament on his death 'Quis dabit capiti meo aquam', perhaps the highlight of this fascinating album".

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"On their new recording, The Orlando Consort collaborate with musicologist Patrick Macey on works by Dufay and Florentine music composed under Lorenzo de' Medici, including several premiere recordings ... The four solo voices of The Orlando Consort bring a brisk clarity to the textures ... Delicacy and intimacy are superbly matched to the more introspective works".