Here we have the start of an exciting mini series from The King's Consort, recording highlights of the sacred music of Claudio Monteverdi. The first volume is suitably opulent, with a veritable 'Who's who' of Monteverdi solo singers joined by two dozen chorus singers and a colourful group of instrumentalists under Robert King's lively baton. The repertoire for this opening volume presents a joyous Christmas sequence from the composer's great collection of 1640-41, Selva morale e spirituale, such as might have been heard at a Venetian Vespers, alongside a fine Mass. The spacious recordings are complemented by excellent booklet notes by Monteverdi expert Professor John Whenham. Monteverdi's unique music is constantly inventive, immensely variedand uniquely Venetian. A glorious new Hyperion project!