There are many recordings of Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers available. Despite a vocal cast which includes some well-known names, this one fails to excite. In its approach to choral forces and instrumentation one is tempted to characterize it as ‘pre-’ rather than ‘post-Parrott’, but if that is how you prefer your Vespers, there are more electrifying versions to choose from. It is also a pity that the booklet-note fails even to acknowledge the performance issues involved.'