On Wednesday 23 November, Montserrat Figueras passed away. She was the most important pioneer in baroque vocals, and wife of gambist Jordi Savall. In this extra programme you can hear several special older recordings.
Montserrat Figueras (1942-2011)
After fighting cancer for a year, soprano Montserrat Figueras died in late November 2011 at age 69.
Thankfully, she left behind countless wonderful recordings, a number of which we will play during this special programme, particularly those from the 80s.
Here you can read an In Memoriam by Jolande van der Klis of the Organisatie Oude Muziek (Early Music Organisation).
1. Jacopo Peri (1561-1633).
– Lamento di Iole (1628).
Montserrat Figueras, soprano. Ton Koopman, harpsichord.
(AV9815, 1981)
2. Giulio Caccini (ca.1550-1618).
– Amarilli mia bella.
– Dolcissimo sospiro.
– Con le luci d’un bel ciglio.
Montserrat Figueras, soprano. Hopkinson Smith, lute. Robert Clancy, baroque guitar. Jordi Savall, viola da gamba. Xenia Schindler, harp.
(DHM GD 77164, 1984)
3. Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643).
– Lamento d’Arianna: Lasciatemi morire.
Montserrat Figueras, soprano. Ton Koopman, harpsichord. Rolf Lislevand, theorbe. Paolo Pandolfo, viola da gamba. Lorenz Duftschmid, violone.
(AV9815, 1989)
4. Tarquinio Merula (1595-1665).
– Folle è ben che si crede.
– Hor ch’è tempo di dormire: Canzonetta Spirituale sopra alla nanna.
Montserrat Figueras, soprano. Jean-Pierre Canihac, cornetto. Ton Koopman, harpsichord. Andrew Lawrence-King, harp. Jordi Savall, viola da gamba. Rolf Lislevand, theorbe. Lorenz Duftschmid, violone.
(ES 9964, 1993)
5. Anonyme Sefardisch Marocco (ca. 1500).
– Berceuse Ladino: Nani, nani.
Montserrat Figueras, soprano. Pedro Memelsdorff, recorder. Begoña Olavide, psaltery. Pedro Estevan, pandero. Dimitris Psonis, bells.
6. Anonyme Alicante / Jordi Savall.
– Cançó de Bressol: Mareta, mareta no’m faces plorar (ca. 1700).
Montserrat Figueras and Arianna Savall, soprano. Marc Hantaï, transverse flute. Xavier Diaz-Latorre, baroque guitar. Jordi Savall, viola da gamba. Dimitris Psonis, bells.
(AV 9826, 2002)
Montserrat Figueras in +/- 2008