A New Venetian Coronation, 1595

Music by Andrea & Giovanni Gabrieli

Gabrieli Consort & Players/Paul McCreesh

Signum: SIGCD287

A spectacular recording which evokes a notable event at St Mark's Venice in 1595 and at first makes you wish it might have been a DVD. But no, this is essentially a CD, taking advantage of the increasing sophistication of technology during twenty years since a somewhat similar group debuted with the same creation twenty and more years again.

Although some of the same musicians can be heard again here, others reflect the surge in expertise on original instruments which has occurred, in England as much as abroad.

It is a veritable feast of early renaissance music, recorded at Douai Abbey in Berkshire (1929-1993) where the acoustics are ideal. Splendid book-style production, with evocative b&w photos.

Recommended with enthusiasm.

Peter Grahame Woolf

See Gramophone's review of the original release of this programme, A Venetian Coronation (Virgin Classics) .