Description:

One of Japan's leading singers, Ryo Sakurada has been very active as an opera and soloist in opera performances at major music festivals throughout Europe and at the Bach Collegium Japan. Surprisingly, this is his first album as a soloist. In 17th century Italy, the monody style (solo or chamber songs with instrumental accompaniment) emerged and developed from the previously dominant style of madrigale with heavy chorus. In this CD, we can hear a collection of vocal pieces in the monody style from such a turbulent period. The bass accompaniment is the baroque harp of Marie Nishiyama, with whom the ensemble has performed together in the past and with whom they have a good rapport. (C)RS