I use the word sumptuous in at least two senses.  This is a really good recording with a fine period instrument ensemble and voices carefully matched to parts.  It’s also very carefully researched in the quest to get as close as what Monteverdi’s audience heard as possible.  It’s also sumptuous in presentation.  It’s a beautiful hardback book with 3 CD slots built in.  The binding and printing are Folio Society quality.  It’s sumptuous also in terms of book content.  The English language version has 165 pages of explanatory essays plus libretto and translation!  There is a wealth of information on what was happening in Venetian theatre , as well as influences from further afield.  There’s a section on how discoveries in the sciences were reshaping perspectives on art and aesrthetics and there’s a load of detail on the links between the commedia dell’arte and the opera stage.  For a music loving bibliophile it’s a real treat.

The driving forces behind I Gemelli are Emiliano Gonzalez Toro and Mathilde Etienne.  They have created a performing edition for Il Ritorno that allows for few compromises.  It’s a fairly large ensemble for Monteverdi; almost musicians playing a wide variety of instruments  including rarities such as the trumpet marine.  The large band is used sparingly so the textures are clear and the continuo group plays with great freedom.

There’s less doubling up on parts than most recordings of this work and so nineteen soloists are used. including some luxury casting.  For example Philippe Jaroussky is used for just a few minutes in the prologue as Human Frailty.  The principal singers are all excellent.  Gonzalez Toro sings the title character and is dramatically and musically effective, nicely contrasting Ulisse as himself and Ulisse disguised as an old beggar.  Rihab Chaieb as Penelope is a revelation.  It’s some time since I last heard her sing and her voice has developed a really dark and interesting character.  It’s at the very dark end of the mezzo colour palate and especially strong in the lower register.  It’s a really interesting and effective choice for Penelope.  Emöke Baráth is really good as Minerva; singing with both flexibility and the required dignity.  Philippe Talbot is also a bright and sympathetic Eumete and there’s some serious bass from Nicholas Brooymans as Antinous and Jérôme Varnier as Neptune.  But really it’s a very strong, balanced and varied cast and the results are most satisfying.

The recording was made in stages between 2021 and 2023 at Studios Riffx, La Seine Musicale and it’s an excellent studio recording with the sound stage consistent between sessions.  The only real beef I have with this is that if one is going to so much trouble, a standard; 44.1kHz/16bit CD release is a bit less than state of the art.  It deserves SACD or at least hi-res CD.  FWIW one can also buy MP3 and standard res FLAC versions with a digital version of the book but why would you?

Catalogue number: Gemelli Factory GEFA006