A CAPELA DO REI MAGNÂNIMO
"The Chapel of the Magnanimous
King"
FRANCISCO ANTONIO DE ALMEIDA (C.1702 - C.1755)
In Dedicatione Templi
CARLOS SEIXAS(1705 - 1742)
Sonata no.75 in A minor
D.SCARLATTI (1685 - 1757)
Laetatus Sum
BERNARDO PASQUINI (1637 - 1710)
Sonata in C
GIOVANNI BATTISTA BASSETTI (? - ?)
Lauda Jerusalem
JOAO RODRIGUES ESTEVES (c. 1700 - 1751)
Mass for 8 voices
Lisbon Chamber Choir/Teresita
Gutierrez Marques
David Cranmer (organ)
Recorded Lisbon 2000
STRAUSS PORTUGALSOM SP
4292 [54.50]
The music on this disc is associated with the 'magnanimous monarch' of its
title, namely King Joao V of Portugal, who reigned during the first half
of the C18th. It has been brought together in this form with the assistance
of the Portuguese Ministry of Culture - but don't let that put you off.
There is some attractive music here, though none of it is of especially high
quality. Perhaps predictably, the best piece is the Scarlatti, though the
de Almeida motet is worth listening to, as is the Mass by Esteves.
The Lisbon Chamber Choir is a pleasant-toned choir, who achieve a well balanced
blend, but are a little short on tonal variety, which this music urgently
needs. There are some important solos, which are taken competently, presumably
by members of the choir. Unfortunately, they are not credited, which seems
rather thoughtless.
The organist David Cranmer produces some attractive sounds from the organ
of St.George's Church Lisbon, where this disc was recorded, though some will
find the quintadena stop used in the Seixas Minuet (sounding a
12th above the main note) strangely exotic. Cranmer provided much
of the research needed to assemble these performances, and also wrote the
informative sleeve-note.
A couple of small but significant quibbles. Firstly, this disc is very short
at under 55 minutes. And secondly, some more track divisions would have been
useful. The Scarlatti falls into several clearly demarcated sections, but
is all on one track, whereas the Esteves is divided into five separate tracks
- much better.
Gwyn Parry-Jones
This disc is available direct from Portugalsom-STRAUSS as follows:-
The prices are: UK pounds- 6 and US dollars -10 (freight not included).
Freight --- till 3 cd's --- not registered --- £2.40;registered----
£3.50
For USA --$ 10
Freight --till 3cd's -- not registered ---$5 ;registered ---- $6.80
We accept Visa or American Express
Credit cards are accepted with the name of the buyer, credit card number,
validity date and type of card.
Orders : to the attention of Eduarda Martins
by fax to the nº 351 21 7142353
By mail to :
Rua Adelaide Cabete,3C
1500-023 LISBOA
Portugal
phone 01 7151151 - 7143490 fax 01 7141723
by e-mail strauss@mail.telepac.pt
