One of those special discs where the combination of repertoire and performances is of such unerring quality that it can justly be called definitive,
Paul O'Dette's 1991 recital of lute works by Johannes Hieronymus Kapsberger is as good as it gets.
Born in Venice, Kapsberger was unsurpassed in his times as a lutenist. His published collections of works for his instrument were considered all but unplayable by anyone but himself at the time they were first published. Yet for all its difficulty, Kapsberger's music is exceedingly attractive, full of ingratiating melodies, rich harmonies, and engaging forms.
O'Dette is unsurpassed among modern players in technical mastery of the lute, and indeed there is nothing in Kapsberger's music that is beyond him. More importantly, his touch is sure, his articulation is clean, and his tone is balanced in a way that brings Kapsberger's music into incredibly clear focus.
O'Dette's interpretations fall on the ear in a way that makes them seem almost inevitable, as if this music should be played no other way. Recorded in transparent digital sound at the Bethel United Church of Christ in Manchester, MI, this disc deserves to be heard by anyone who loves lute music.