ORLANDO di LASSO ~ 1532 ~ June 14, 1594

Orlande de Lassus (also Orlandus Lassus, Orlando di Lasso, Roland de Lassus, or Roland Delattre) (1532 (possibly 1530) – 14 June 1594) was a Franco-Flemish composer of late Renaissance music. Along with Palestrina (of the Roman School), he is today considered to be the chief representative of the mature polyphonic style of the Franco-Flemish School, and he was the most famous and influential musician in Europe at the end of the 16th century.

Image & text courtesy Wikipedia.com

Last night I went to the Chanticleer concert at Mission Dolores Basilica. It was almost entirely music of Orlando di Lasso and featured his magnificent Missa tous les regretz (based on a chanson by Nicolas Gombert-- sung as introduction to the mass) and di Lasso's  Penitential Psalms. Chanticleer was founded in part to explore the beautiful and complex vocal music of the Renaissance.  Perhaps the greatest composer of the period was Orlando di Lasso, known as “The Divine.”  So respected was he, that over 2000 of his works survive to this day. 

The San Francisco Chronicle reviewer was not particularly kind in his review of this program a few days ago. Perhaps it was an off-night either for them or for him. But last night's performance was superb. The group's intonation was virtually flawless -- and that's a particular concern of mine. Certainly the top sopranos were far superior to their last concert. In any case, Chanticleer did Orlando di Lasso justice on the anniversary of his death (factoring in the difference in time zones).