Philippe Herreweghe’s 1979 recording of Orlande de Lassus’ motets explore the connections between Lassus’ style and the highly emotive madrigals that were to follow in Monteverdi’s time. Nine of the 10 selections come from a 1571 collection called Moduli Quinis Vocibus, and these provide ample opportunity to witness Lassus’ contributions and embellishments to the genre. His expansive and highly colored writing utilizes invigorating rhythms, soaring harmonies, and settings that are expressly bound to the emotions of the religious texts.
Artistically, this recording does Lassus full justice. Herreweghe’s singers (his own Collegium Vocale and singers borrowed from the Knabenchor Hannover) are creamy and lovely, such that you can almost imagine a Botticellian luminescence radiating from your speakers. There are a couple of items that remain on the wish list, though: better articulation from the singers and a less spongy recording environment. Consonants are easily lost in the hearing. But this still remains a very nice reissue to have if you’re looking to add Lassus (also known as Orlando di Lasso) to your collection. Other albums to be on the lookout for are the Tallis Scholars’ soon-to-be-reissued Missa Osculetur Me on Gimell and the Hilliard Ensemble’s crystalline recording of the Missa Pro Defunctis and the Prophetiae Sibyllarum on ECM.
