FRANCOIS COUPERIN: Les Concerts Royaux 1 – 4 – Le Concert des Nations/ Jordi Savall, bass viol & direction – Alia Vox SACD

by | Jul 10, 2005 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews | 0 comments

FRANCOIS COUPERIN: Les Concerts Royaux 1 – 4 – Le Concert des
Nations/ Jordi Savall, bass viol & direction – Alia Vox
multichannel SACD AVSA 9840, 62:54 ****:

This Spanish label is releasing some of the most lavish packaging of
music to be seen today.  This one, for example, unfolds out four
ways, with an illustrated 64-page note booklet. Jordi Savall’s early
music octet has previously recorded several albums of important works
of Couperin.  In this one they present the chamber works created
for Louis XIV near the end of his life. Couperin refused to write in
operatic or even larger orchestral forms, but concentrated with
obsessive preciseness on smaller chamber instrumental works such as
these four “concerts.”  Couperin explained in his preface to the
works that he intended them for playing not only on the solo
harpsichord but by various instruments as well as in a larger ensemble.

His style here was becoming more identifiably French, with less of the
Italian influence of earlier works.  The Prelude to each work is
one of the most interesting sections because Couperin had more freedom
without being tied to the dance rhythms of all the other movements of
the suites. Gavottes, Menuets, Allemandes, Sarabandes abound
here.  The Third Concert is the most wide-ranging of the four, and
has as its longest movement a highly original Sarabande of stately
rhythms.  The players are assembled in a U shape around the
microphones and are so displayed spatially in your listening
room.  The clarity and accuracy of the playing and the surround
sonics work together to make this a captivating musical
experience.  Very highly recommended!

– John Sunier 

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