This is a delightful collection of Italian madrigals, some contrapuntal but the majority syllabic and homophonic. Concerto Italiano have one great advantage over many ensembles: their natural daily familiarity with Italian, including that of earlier centuries. The texts themselves in this case are gems by such well known poets as Petrarch, casting their influence far beyond the confines of Italy.

What is particularly noticeable in this recording is the close cohesion between words and music. This is achieved to a large extent through variations of volume, variations one might describe as precise, colourful and dramatic. No timidity, no all-too-British restraint, but an exact and natural response in sound. The languishing is often brightened by little gleams of hope. Questa dogliosa stil calmo di pianto in particular might be said to show precision of meaning, a point so often skipped over and blurred, if not ignored altogether. It leads with vigour into the next phrase. In two or three places we are suddenly whisked away from sigh-heaving and melancholy to moments of merriment and joy.

As for drama, it is the intensity of feeling arising from these rapid changes of tiny melodic snatches that transforms the whole of this colourful composition. One example is to be found in Lontan dalla mia diva with its dramatic vocal exploits on the word “tormenti”. Another comes in Amor, Fortuna e la mia mente schiva with its sudden dramatisation of the final phrase. Both tempo and volume acquire a completely different feeling as regards precision of meaning: there is also an outstanding degree of colourful expression as well as all the excitement of the rapidly changing emotions of the actors.