I Fagiolini * Orazio Benevoli: Missae Angelus Domini & Dum Compl [New CD]

Two multi-choir masses from mid-17th-century Rome (one for Easter, the other one based on Palestrina's motet for Pentecost) complete I Fagiolini's dazzling series exploring the 'Colossal Baroque' and tribute to the 'lost' music of Orazio Benevoli. Maestro of the cappella giulia at St Peter's, Rome, Benevoli's mastery of surround-sound is clear in these very different works. The sheer quality of his music shines through and, sung by a group at the height of it's powers, changes our view of 17th-century multi-choir music.All the Masses in I Fagiolini's Benevoli series are premiere recordings.