Monteverdi: Con che soavità; Voices of Music, Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano

Monteverdi's Con che soavità, performed on original instruments by the Early Music ensemble Voices of Music, with soloist Jennifer Ellis Kampani, soprano. Published in Venice in 1619, Monteverdi's work features an arioso melody combined with unusual contrasts between the high and low strings. Kati Kyme, baroque violin by Johann Gottlob Pfretzschner, Mittenwald, 1791 Elizabeth Blumenstock, baroque violin by Andrea Guarneri, Cremona, Italy, 1660 Lisa Grodin, baroque viola by Mathias Eberl, Salzburg, Austria, 1680 David Daniel Bowes, baroque viola by Richard Duke, London, England, ca. 1780 Adaiha MacAdam-Somer, baroque cello, Anonymous, 18th century Farley Pearce, violone by George Stoppani, Manchester, 1985, after Amati, 1560 David Tayler, archlute by Andreas von Holst, Munich, 2012, after Tieffenbrucker, c1610 Hanneke van Proosdij, baroque organ by Winold van der Putten, Finsterwolde, Netherlands, 2004, after early 18th-century northern German instruments Con che soavità, labra odorate, e vi bacio e v'ascolto; ma se godo un piacer, l'altro m'è tolto. Come i vostri diletti s'ancidono fra lor, se dolcemente vive per ambedue l'anima mia? Che soave armonia fareste, o cari baci, o dolci detti, se foste unitamente d'ambedue le dolcezz'ambo capaci, baciando, i detti, e ragionando, i baci. With these sweet fragrant lips I kiss you or listen to you speak but when I enjoy one pleasure, I am deprived of the other. How is it that your delights can exclude each other, if my soul lives sweetly for both? Such smooth harmony you make, dear kisses, oh sweet sayings, if only you could do both at the same time: kiss the words and speak the kisses. —Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538-1612)