Monteverdi: Lettera amorosa

This collection of works by Monteverdi centers on the heart-wrenching Lamento d’Arianna, which Mariana Flores, with her flavorsome, characterful voice, brings vividly to life. A handful of madrigals and a couple of opera arias join the solo pieces to create a varied and rich program—the Lamento della Ninfa is done with real passion and great expression. As always, Leonardo García Alarcón and his fine Cappella Mediterranea provide imaginative and beautifully gauged support. Magically, this centuries-old music sounds amazingly new and forever relevant.