Arion Ensemble, Montreal.
Marais, Mondonville, Quentin, Telemann & Villeneuve
Conversations en musique.
Atma
2 9717 (Duschene DD 71722) 62'44"
Telemann
Paris Quartets Nos. 4, 5 & 6.
CBC Records
MVCD 1040 61'36" 
CBC Records Canada
Leclair
Concertos for violin (Op. 7/2, 7/6 & 10/1) & flute (Op. 7/3);
Arion Ensemble with Monica Huggett (baroque violin) & Claire Guimond
(baroque flute).
Atma ACD
2 2143. 63 mins.
Corrette
Symphonies des noels and Concertos comiques.
Atma ACD
2 2192 67'32"
The Atma recordings may be purchased from
www.early-music.com
These are four recommendable CDs recorded between 1993 & 1998 by a
Montreal-based Canadian ensemble which made a memorable impression in London
recently [see S&H -
April
2000].
The core group of violin, flute, gamba and harpsichord is heard in the Telemann
CD . and the Atma/Duschene CD of French chamber music of the 18th C. That
mixed programme, including lesser names, varies the standard line up with
a suite by Villeneuve (1677-1756) for flute and violin unaccompanied, and
with the very attractive 4th Sonate for harpsichord and violin by Mondonville
(1711-72), who elevates the harpsichord to the role of soloist, the first
to do so in concerted music.
Telemann's Paris Quartets were a runaway success when published in
1738 and have maintained their popularity. The movements have French indications
of their characters. They have specialised in French baroque repertoire,
and played together for nearly twenty years, and are as closely attuned as
that might imply.
For Leclair's concertos the flexible ensemble is enlarged to a dozen
strings with theorboe and harpsichord. The English baroque virtuoso Monica
Huggett joins them for three of his spectacular violin concertos, which
follow Vivaldi's but are musically far more developed, with all the virtuoso
possibilities explored. He was described in his time as 'the French Bach'.
The third of Op 7 is inscribed 'may be performed on flute or oboe' and is
taken here by Arion's flautist Claire Guimond, making a charming
interlude.
The Corrette disc is lighter in character, with six strings and
harpsichord, and Arion's flautist doubling on percussion. Michel Corrette
(1707-95) was immensely prolific through his long life, and published instruction
methods for all instruments. His 25 Comic Concertos are based upon popular
themes from the stage. The others recorded here bring together 'the best-loved
French and foreign Noels' (i.e. Christmas carols).
All these CDs are well played, recorded and documented. My ratings are intended
as indication for prospective puchasers, and I would advise strating with
the Leclair, which finds Monica Huggett in terrific form. (For the core Arion
Ensemble, I have previously recommended their mixed programme Conversations
en musique ,
which linked with the South Bank Centre concert.)
Reviewer
Peter Grahame Woolf
