Out of Gesualdo’s dazzling yet murderous legacy, Peter Navarro-Alonso forges a modern composition where beauty and horror collide in a haunting fusion of voices and instruments.

It is a great pleasure that OUR Recordings is releasing this exceptional work by Peter Navarro-Alonso, featuring the Grammy-winning ensemble Theatre of Voices and Ensemble Stralo under the direction of Paul Hillier.

Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa (c.1561–1613) was a Renaissance composer known for both his groundbreaking music and the infamous murder of his wife and her lover. While historical records about his personality are limited and contradictory, his music, especially his 104 madrigals, is notable for its bold harmonic experimentation, centuries ahead of its time. Composer Peter Navarro-Alonso, long fascinated by Gesualdo, created the hour-long piece In flagrante delicto in collaboration with violinist Christina Åstrand and conductor Paul Hillier. The composition explores the darkness of Gesualdo’s psyche through musical quotations and has been performed and recorded by Ensemble Stralo and Theatre of Voices.

Peter Navarro-Alonso is a composer focused on drama, sound, and the human mind, known for exploring timbre and the concept of hope. He has written vocal, chamber, orchestral, and electroacoustic works, and received Denmark’s top music honor in 2023.

Paul Hillier is a renowned singer, conductor, composer, and writer, known for founding the Hilliard Ensemble and Theatre of Voices. With nearly 200 acclaimed recordings, multiple awards, and honours from both the British and Danish monarchs, he has led major chamber choirs across Europe and is especially noted for his collaborations with composers Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich.

Ensemble Stralo, founded in 2016 by four Danish soloists and chamber musicians, combines strings, winds, and keyboard to create a unique and flexible sound. They perform music from the Renaissance to contemporary works, offering distinctive and engaging concert experiences.