Madrigali, libri terzo & quarto

"This complete recording of the third book is superior to the two other available versions ... La Compagnia's customary alertness to the meaning of particular words as well as the narrative is much in evidence ... The five voices are joined by a sixth in Donna, se m'ancidete and the larger group continues to maintain the same clarity of texture and articulation, as well as excellent tuning".

"The singers pay studious attention to the poetry and its nuances, painting the words with a rich palette and contrasting light and shade to reflect Gesualdo's chiaroscuro ... Harmonia Mundi's recording is clean and immediate: individual parts are easily discernible within the finely balanced ensemble and the words cut through with feverish intensity".

"Der Tenor und Dirigent Paul Agnew ... treibt als mitsingender Akteur eines Solistensextetts Gesualdos Exzentrik bei den vertonten Gedichten über Liebe, Leidenschaft und Tod nicht auf die Spitze, gelangt aber durch eine extrem textnahe, sehr gestische Darstellung und durch eine wechselnde Besetzung des Sopranparts zu sehr abwechslungsreichen, vitalen, farbigen, ja oft richtig spannenden Interpretationen ... Blitz-blank intoniert, werden zu schillernden Juwelen exzentrisch-schöner Vokalkunst".