Gesualdo: Il liuto del principe

Featuring

Bor Zuljan
Alessandro Piccinini
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger
Carlo Gesualdo
Pietro Paolo Melli
Claudio Saracini

Bellerofonte Castaldi
Vincenzo Bernia
Anonymous

Did you know?

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Composer Biography

Despite his fame for experimental vocal music, Gesualdo's lute playing immediately impressed count Alfonso Fontanelli, a learned music lover, in 1594.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Gesualdo was known for his innovative compositions, adorning them with fine thoughts and caprices that could amaze musicians and singers worldwide.

Instruments

Gesualdo played a significant role in the evolution of long-stringed lutes, including the archlute and chitarrone, and was likely the first to bring such instruments to Naples.

Compositional Technique

It is highly probable that Gesualdo composed most of his complex polyphonic works on the lute, similar to how Palestrina composed before him.

Instruments

The archlute, or liuto attiorbato, was invented by Alessandro Piccinini, who commissioned its prototype in 1594 and refined its design with a revolutionary neck extension.

Recording & Production

The lutenist, Bor Zuljan, plays a 14-course liuto attiorbato, custom-built by Czech luthier Jiří Čepelák for this project, based on a 1596 Hans Burkholzer tenor lute.

Composer Biography

Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, was praised as an "excellentissimo Musico" and a rare player of many instruments, especially the lute, by theorist Scipione Cerreto in 1601.