Best of French Baroque
Marin MARAIS (1656-1728) Alcyone: Suite [11:53]
Jean-Philippe RAMEAU (1683-1764) Dardanus, RCT35: Suite [22:08]
Jean-Baptiste LULLY (1632-1687) Phaëton, LWV61: Suite [14:24]
Jean-Joseph de MONDONVILLE (1711-1772) Dominus regnavit: Grand
motet [24:42]
Colin Ainsworth (tenor), Robert Kinar (tenor), Andrew Mahon (baritone), Ann
Monoyios (soprano), Michele DeBoer (soprano)
Tafelmusik Chamber Choir
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra/Jeanne Lamon, Ivars Taurins
rec. various venues, 2001, 2006, 2009 and 2012. DDD.
NO texts.
TAFELMUSIK TMK1029CD [73:26]
Reviewed as lossless download from eclassical.com
(also available in mp3, both with short pdf booklet) and on CD from some suppliers.
Having made several distinguished recordings for Sony and
other labels, many of which are still available for streaming or download
or on CD from ArkivMusic, Tafelmusik have recently been reissuing many of
their earlier recordings on their own label. This release is a sort of sampler
for their recordings of the French repertoire. I’m not sure about the ‘best
of’ label, but at least we have complete works or substantial suites from
three acknowledged masters of the period and a distinguished runner-up.
A companion German volume, on the other hand, consists of bits and pieces
of the music of Bach.
The ‘best of’ albums appear to be available as downloads only from some dealers:
not all have the discs, despite the ‘CD’ suffix to the catalogue number.
With only a very rudimentary 4-page booklet which does not contain the text
of the Mondonville or any information about the music other than the track
listings, you might expect them to be offered at budget price but they are
in fact full-price releases, at around £16 where available in the UK
on CD, with downloads at around £8 (the eclassical.com download costs $13.22).
On the other hand the performances, all but the Mondonville directed by their
distinguished former director Jeanne Lamon, who retired in 2014, are anything
but cut-price in quality.
Tafelmusik’s stylish recording of the Alcyone Suite also appears on
a CD + DVD release entitled House of Dreams (TMK1020DVDCD) which John
Sheppard enjoyed as a musical experience though he found the visual aspect
on the DVD less to his liking – review.
I can certainly endorse his statement that the playing is on top form. It’s
both stylish and foot-tapping and I only regret that we have just four items
here out of the eight on House of Dreams. I’m glad that they include
Tempeste with its thunder and lightning effects.
The Suite from Dardanus contains nine of the sixteen tracks, 22 minutes
out of 36, on another Tafelmusik own-label release where it’s coupled with
Suites 1 and 2 from Le Temple de la Gloire (TMK1012CD, CD or stream/download
from classicsonlinehd.com,
no booklet). The original release of that recording marked Tafelmusik’s first
foray into the realm of the French baroque, though you wouldn’t think so from
the quality of the playing. So good is the performance, in fact, that I recommend
getting the more complete offering, since the suites from Le Temple de
la Gloire are equally enjoyable.
The Phaëton Suite on the other hand, is best enjoyed on the French
Baroque album: Tafelmusik’s performance is also available on a concept
album entitled The Galileo Project, where it’s the most substantial
part of a rather bitty programme. If the Suite leads you to the complete
recording of this opera from Les Talens Lyriques and Christophe Rousset (Aparté
AP061 – review)
so much the better. To the purchase options in that review please add Presto.
Ignore the classicsonline button – it’s available for subscribers to stream
or to purchase from the new classicsonlinehd.com: 16-bit
here, 24-bit here.
Neither COL nor eclassical.com, however, offer the booklet, which I understand
is a de-luxe affair, and the downloads cost little less than the CDs – more
if you go for 24-bit, especially from eclassical – please see end of my review
of Outhere group releases.
The concluding Mondonville motet, directed by choirmaster Ivars Taurins, may
seem to make a strange bedfellow, especially as it’s much later than the other
music and there is a first-class alternative recording from Les Arts Florissants
and William Christie, coupled with two other Mondonville motets, which you
may already have (Erato 0630177912). The quality of the performance, however,
more than makes up for the slight incongruity. It makes a fine conclusion
to a fine programme, though the lack of text is very regrettable: it’s from
Psalm 92 (93)*.
The recordings, made over a period of twelve years, are all very good.
Though I prefer the Dardanus suite in its more complete form on the
alternative release which I have mentioned and the booklet is rudimentary,
I derived great enjoyment from this stylishly performed recording. It would
make a good introduction to the French music of the period but more seasoned
lovers of the Baroque will enjoy it too.
Brian Wilson
* Dominus regnavit, decorem indutus est: indutus est Dominus fortitudinem,
et præcinxit se.
Etenim firmavit orbem terræ, qui non commovebitur.
Parata sedes tua ex tunc; a sæculo tu es.
Elevaverunt flumina, Domine, elevaverunt flumina vocem suam; elevaverunt
flumina fluctus suos, a vocibus aquarum multarum.
Mirabiles elationes maris; mirabilis in altis Dominus.
Testimonia tua credibilia facta sunt nimis; domum tuam decet sanctitudo,
Domine, in longitudinem dierum.
The Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel; the Lord hath put on his
apparel, and girded himself with strength.
He hath made the round world so sure, that it cannot be moved.
Ever since the world began, hath thy seat been prepared: thou art from everlasting.
The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice; the floods
lift up their waves.
The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly; but yet the Lord, who
dwelleth on high, is mightier.
Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure: holiness becometh thine house for
ever.
[Book of Common Prayer translation: closer to the Latin than modern versions]
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