Monteverdi - Vespro della Beata Vergine

William Christie and his ensemble Les Arts Florissants offer serious competition for Philippe Herreweghe's outstanding version of the Monteverdi Vespers on Harmonia Mundi. What you hear (and subconsciously appreciate) is detail, in the sound as well as in the vocal and instrumental lines. Careful phrasing and dynamics complement the rich harmonies and inspired melodic writing, enhancing the work's inherent drama. Because of the Vespers' incredible variety of musical styles--highly unusual for a liturgical work from this period--and due to its exceptional length (90-plus minutes) and the number of skilled performers it requires, many observers believe the work was simply an "audition" piece for its composer and was never intended for performance as a complete work. This well-paced, virtuosic performance makes a good case for the Vespers as a unified, cohesive piece. The soloists rival the best on disc, except for tenor Paul Agnew, whose "Nigra sum" is in an exalted class by itself. --David Vernier