FUTURO ANTICO III

Francesca Torelli, the director of the "Ensemble Scintille di Musica" wrote on her blog how this porject was conceived, letting understand that this is more a project of the Ensemble with the participation (and the name) of Angelo Branduardi than a Branduardi's project.

The subtitle "Mantova alla corte dei Gonzaga" (Mantova at the Court of Gonzaga) comes from the fact that the Gonzaga, family who ruled Mantova for about two centuries, were famous for their support to every kind of art, including music.

The album is made of six suites composed of different medieval madrigals, villanelle, or other genres of popular (in these times) music, from different authors but joined together basing on their arguments.

The authors are not much famous. Probably the best known is Monteverdi.

So this is late medieval music, played using original instruments on which Angelo's voice sounds perfect, even though the best moments are probably the instrumentals. The classical guitar of track 9 is something that Steve Hackett would surely like, I think.

For people who loves classical music but also the European folk: British, Celic, Breton and Provencal, just to give an idea. More or less we all come from the same roots. Also Branduardi sings in various languages.

The album cover is part of a painting of Giulio Romano (1499-1546) and represents "Psiche and Eros" that other than being in Mantova is in line with the subject of the six suites that are all about Love and Death.

Not as good as the previous Futuro Antico but good enough. The important advice is: don't think to hear any prog.