Baci Soavi E Cari (1993)

"The music for this disc is chosen from a selection of Luca Marenzio's prolific output of madrigal sets and follows a rewarding, if not entirely convincing, account of Cipriano de Rore's valedictory Fifth Book. Evidently, his sense of balanced melody built upon a gleaming diatonic backdrop appealed greatly. Of course there is more to Marenzio than simply providing models for England's short-lived flirtation with madrigals. He was a composer whose wide-ranging qualities earned him the reputation of being a master of fresh and lucid texts, as well as the more serious and anguished style of the mannerists.The Consort turn in a performance of remarkable quality, movingly paced and immaculately blended. A fine achievement and not to be missed." (Gramophone)