CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI

In March 1964, as a student at King’s College, Cambridge, Gardiner led a performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers that not only launched his conducting career, but also his world-renowned Monteverdi Choir. 25 years later, he put down a recording on DG, which,  recorded live in a performance also captured on film by the BBC, has stood the test of time.

That film is re-issued here together with the audio recording and a new 100-page booklet with sung texts, repertoire notes by Gardiner himself and a new exclusive interview with the conductor exploring his affinity to the Monteverdi Vespers.  

“An atmospheric and distinctive performance beautifully accommodated to its deluxe setting . . . a gloriously public Vespers, and thoroughly Venetian for that.”  GRAMOPHONE MAGAZINE, 2005