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A Second Marriage

Two years after slaughtering his first wife, Carlo Gesualdo is preparing to take a new bride and to enjoy the musical wonders of the Este court at Ferrara.

Donald Macleod looks at the extraordinary life and music of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa.

A mere two years after murdering his first wife, the beautiful Donna Maria d'Avalos, Gesualdo is betrothed to marry another eligible woman - Leonora d'Este. He sets out for the Este court at Ferrara and, among the 300 items of luggage he transports there, takes care to pack his books of madrigals. The experience of Ferrara's wondrous musical culture will profoundly influence his own compositions. As to the second marriage - it was barely happier than Gesualdo's first.

Felice primavera; Danzan le Ninfe; Tirsi morir volea
Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam
Harry Van Der Kamp, director

Io tacero
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, director

Gagliarda del Principe di Venosa
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director

Come vivi cor mio; All'ombra degli allori
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director

Languisco e moro; Dolcissimo sospiro
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director

Luci serene e chiare; Arde il mio cor
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie, director

Sparge la morte al mio Signor
Delitiae Musicae
Marco Longhini, director.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Tirsi Morir Volea

    Choir: Amsterdam Gesualdo Consort. Director: Harry van der Kamp.
    • CPO : 777-138-2.
    • CPO.
    • 12.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Io Tacero

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • Harmonia Mundi 901268.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 9.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Gagliarda del Principe di Venosa

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Conductor: Marco Longhini.
    • Monteverdi: Madrigals, Book 2.
    • Opus.
    • 22.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Languisco e Moro

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ.
    • Naxos.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Dolcissimo Sospiro

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ.
    • Naxos.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Luci Serene E Chiare

    Performer: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901268.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 6.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Arde Il Mio Cor

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMC-901268.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 8.
  • Carlo Gesualdo

    Sparge La Morte Al Mio Signor

    Ensemble: Delitiæ Musicæ. Conductor: Marco Longhini.
    • N/A.
    • 1.

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  • Tue 27 Mar 2018 12:00
  • Tue 24 Nov 2020 12:00

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