(CD) SACRED MUSIC

Federico Maria Sardelli is a Baroque composer for our time. His 'old-new' music is grounded in extensive research and study of the music of Antonio Vivaldi, which ideally places him to recreate such music in his own image. However, this is not neo-Baroque music; it is Baroque music of the present, which in the composer's own words 'regains its own original language and adheres to its own original criteria, expressing vibrant new ideas that are in keeping with its identity'. Following the successful release of his concertos and chamber music (Brilliant Classics 94749), Sardelli returns here with his sacred music for voices and orchestra. Together with settings of the Kyrie and Credo is his Dixit Dominus - a brilliant realisation of the diverse text of Psalm 109, brought to life through a lively mix of choral and solo singing. Here his engaging style breathes new life into a text popular with the Baroque masters; indeed, Sardelli's flexible musical language and imaginative text illustration brings a fresh, spontaneous sound to this music of which Vivaldi would surely have been proud. His Church Concertos also bear a strongly Vivaldian imprint: the C major concerto contains melody that bears the stamp of the galant style, and the D minor concerto makes increasing use of the contrapuntal writing which peaked towards the end of Vivaldi's life. Sardelli himself leads performances of his works, with internationally renowned performers of the Baroque style ncluding his own orchestra Modo Antiquo, whose discography of more than 40 titles includes many world premiere recordings, and the Accademia dei Dissennati. Following on the success of his instrumental music (5 star in Diapason) this new recording presents sacred choral music, composed in Baroques style by Federico Maria Sardelli. Sardelli is one of the foremost conductors of Baroque music, his pioneering performances with his group Modo Antiquo have received glowing reviews in the international press. As a composer he has been inspired by the great Baroque masters, notably Vivaldi, and his compositions in this style seem to have been penned with a goose quill in 18-th century Venice. His works are no dry exercises on the basis of the rules of the day, but are vibrant, alive, bursting with energy, passion and brilliance. This recording contains a substantial Dixit Dominus, a Kyrie, Credo and Church Sonatas. Played and sung with total dedication and conviction by Modo Antiquo, Accademia dei Dissennati and of course the Maestro himself conducting.