From a repertoire which spans over four centuries, Czech mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožená makes no great secret of her love for eighteenth and even seventeenth century music, as evidenced by this new record turning around Monteverdi and some of his contemporary pieces. With her debut role of passionate and heartbreaking Ottavia in The Coronation of Poppea back in 2000 seeing her replace Anne Sofie von Otter. It is, then, only normal that she offers two great moments of this masterpiece, "Disprezzata Regina" and "Addio Roma", one of the most inspired and modern tunes of Monteverdi. Ottone not quite satisfying the mezzo-soprano, she also offers the final duet "Pur ti miro” of the opera in the role of Nero, and alongside soprano Anna Prohaska. Another huge Monteverdi piece with “Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clodinda”. Motets from Monteverdi, instrumentals by Marini, Ucellini and Merula; here is a truly beautiful album on which you will also have the pleasure of hearing wonderful baroque ensemble La Cetra Andrea Marcon. recorded in November 2014 in Sankt German Seewen (Switzerland) church. © SM/Qobuz