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Charpentier: À la Chapelle Royale de Versailles - Savall

Charpentier: À la Chapelle Royale de Versailles - Savall

Alia Vox  AVDVD9905 (2 discs)

Stereo/Multichannel Hybrid

Classical - Vocal


M.A. Charpentier: Canticum in honorem Beate Virginis Mariae inter homines et angelos, H. 400; Symphonie devant Regina (coeli) : Prélude à 3, H. 509; Pour la conception de la Vierge, H. 313; Nativité de la Vierge, H. 309; Prélude pour Salve Regina à 3, H. 23a; Salve Regina à trois voix pareilles, H. 23; Pour la fête de l’Épiphanie, H. 395; Prélude pour le Magnificat à quatre voix, H. 533; [Magnificat], H.80; Stabat mater pour les religieuses, H. 15; Litanies de la Vierge à 6 voix et deux dessus de violes, H. 83; Missa "Assumpta est Maria", H. 11a (Missa sex vocibum cum simphonia); Domine salvum fac Regem, H. 303; Concert pour quatre parties de violes, H. 545; Nuit, H. 416

La Capella Reial de Catalunya
Le Concert des Nations
Jordi Savall (director)


Released in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the foundation of Le Concert des Nations, Alia Vox presents Charpentier - la Chapelle Royale de Versailles - a special set that features a SACD remastering of the ensemble's first recording, a DVD of the group in concert at the Royal Chapel at Versailles and a second SACD featuring the Missa Assumpta est Maria and the Concert pour quatre parties de Violes. The genius of Charpentier retains its relevance and eloquence today, thanks to his highly individual way of incorporating foreign influences into the French tradition. All this, together with his profound spirituality, makes Charpentier's music a perfect example of the "gouts reunis".

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Disc 1: remastered from 1989 recording
Disc 2: recorded 2004/2013
Reviews (1)
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Review by John Broggio - August 25, 2014

This set marks the 25th anniversary of Le Concerts des Nations and the first disc is a reissue & remastering of their first recording (February 1989).

Opening with Canticum in honorem Beate Virginis Mariae inter homines et angelos, the characteristic refinement of playing and singing that we have come to expect from each & every one of Jordi Savall's ensembles is already evident. Interestingly, compared to their later performances (of Charpentier and other composers of the era), their earlier material finds the singers prepared to indulge in differentiating more between what would be the same note in equal temperament than their later counterparts.

The Symphonie dervant Regina (coeli), is a short interlude but a very well chosen one that flows naturally into the following Pour la conception de la Vierge. A trio of short works is rounded off with Nativite de la Vierge which contains some ravishing chromaticism towards the end, beautifully sung and played.

A trio of middling length works is begun by a prelude and its accompanying Salve Regina a trois voix pareilles; the emotional poignancy of the Salve Regina is very powerful from the singing of Gerard Lesne, John Elwes & Josep Cabre - a special moment indeed that all Savall/Renaissance fans are encouraged to hear. Pour la fete de l'Ephiphane & a Magnificat (with accompanying prelude) complete the music triptych; the singing here is also good in keeping with most of the rest of the disc.

To complete the programme of the first disc, the Stabat Mater and Litanies de la Vierge are the two most substantial pieces. The Stabat Mater is the second special performance; the almost static nature of the music combined with the audibly distanced voices. This is the sort of deceptively "simple" sounding music and performance that is tremendously powerful. The Litanies receive a good performance but didn't quite capture the ear as the marvellous performances of the Stabat Mater and the Salve Regina.

The second disc is largely devoted to the Missa Assumpta est Maria, a near 40 minute work and in common with the concluding Nuit, is taken from the same concert (9 October 2004) that forms the DVD in this set. With an expanded and different group of singers, it makes fascinating comparisons with the earlier disc (the marvellous Stabat Mater is also included on the DVD for instance). Le Concerts de Nations is also renewed and much expanded, possibly a by-product of Savall's success in the intervening period; although the austere sounds suited the works that came off best on disc 1, I am not convinced that Savall would now record that cross-section of Charpentier's output with the instrumental ensemble constituted in essentially the same way.

The increase in tonal variety, from players and singers alike, makes for a much more interesting account. The recording is much more immediate than the first disc, perhaps a reflection of the different ecclesiastical venue, perhaps also the better equipment that is now available to the industry. The use of concert performances also lends a certain immediacy lacking from much of the first of the reissued disc. There is no doubt that each & every mood is far better evoked in the Missa Assumpta est Maria, although the delightful "notes inegales" is missing - a case of we lose some but we win some others.

To conclude, a small encore from the 2004 concert is presented: Nuit and like the preceding Concert pour quatre parties de violes, it is for viols (and basso accompaniment) only. The Concert pour quartre is also a concert performance (7 May 2013, Col-legiata de Cardona, Catalogne) and their rendition of this suite shares the vibrancy of music making that marks all the best from Jordi Savall and friends.

The (stereo only) DVD provides a ravishing visual complement to the SACDs; it is a shame that it was not captured in HD, for the Chapelle Royale (Chateau de Versailles) is one of France's most magnificent examples of the era to survive (it was completed about 10-15 years after the Missa Assumpta). The only criticism of note for the second SACD is that the acoustic picture of the placing of the voices relative to the instrumental ensemble is too close together. That apart, the timbre and clarity is marvellous; the audience deserve congratulations as well for, without the more involving response of the musicians & being told so in the accompanying notes, it is virtually impossible to detect their presence

In summary, this set is highly recommendable on all counts for the second SACD, the DVD and parts of the first SACD.

Copyright © 2014 John Broggio and HRAudio.net

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