Monteverdi Choir & John Eliot Gardiner: Monteverdi – Vespro della Beata Vergine

Recorded live inside the opulent acoustic of Basilica di San Marco in Venice, where Claudio Monteverdi originally worked, this 1989 Archiv production is early Baroque drama on a monumental scale. Gardiner exploits the basilica's elevated galleries to stage spatial brass fanfares, virtuosic vocal duels, and thunderous choral refrains. The juxtaposition of archaic Gregorian chant with passionate Italian operatic vocalism creates an exhilarating sonic pageant that rivals any epic widescreen film score.