Tarquinio Merula (1594 or 1595-1665) was an Italian composer, organist and violinist of the early Baroque era. Although mainly active in Cremona, stylistically he was a member of the Venetian school and one of the most progressive Italian composers of the early 17th century, a key figure in the early development of several forms such as the cantata, the aria, the sonatas da chiesa and da camera, variations on a ground bass and the sinfonia.
One of the finest albums ever recorded by Montserrat Figueras, she has developed a reputation for the interpretation of early vocal music combining historical fidelity with vitality. In the 1970s, she rose to eminence as one of a generation of musicians who realised that vocal music before 1800 required a new technical and stylistic approach with emphasis on the poetic and spiritual dimension of the text. With the quality of her voice and the expertise of the ensemble backing her, including Jordi Savall and Ton Koopman, she brings an intimacy to her performances few other vocalists can match. Earlier this year, Jordi Savall was appointed European Union ambassador for intercultural dialogue.This distinction, together with the title of “Artist for Peace” that he shares with his wife Montserrat Figueras, marks the culmination and recognition of his work over more than 30 years on behalf of neglected and marginalised musical traditions and cultures such as those which flourished Spain before the Christian reconquest, as well as the musical dialogue between East and West.
