Vespers of 1610 (CD)

The Cleveland-based baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire, together with founder / conductor Jeannette Sorrell, launched on Avie in July 2010 with a double release featuring discs of Mozart and J.S. Bach. They follow with their tribute to the 400th anniversary year of Monteverdi’s seminal Vespers of the Blessed Virgin, released in anticipation of the group’s first European tour which takes them to Spain and Holland, and culminates with their Wigmore Hall debut on 30 November. Vespers has been a signature piece for Apollo’s Fire for over ten years, and it’s fitting for Sorrell and her vibrant band to bring this magnificent masterwork to wider audiences through this recording.

critical acclaim for Apollo’s Fire
“Resplendent . . . with vibrant attention to dramatic detail. Unlike many accounts of the “Vespers,” Sorrell’s interpretation conveyed the intense drama that pervades this many-splendored puzzle. She must be one of the best conductors around in this repertoire. In her hands, the glory of Monteverdi’s accomplishment couldn’t have been more radiant or moving. An Apollo’s Fire triumph . . . a thriller from first note to last.” – The Cleveland Plain Dealer

“A stunning achievement” – Fanfare

“Sorrell and her fine young choir lavish attention on every phrase and inflexion. The exhilaration and sense of discovery is utterly infectious” – International Record Review