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COURT OF THE SUN KING

John Greene

Artistic Quality:

Sound Quality:

Overall, this is a decent, comprehensive collection of French Baroque music, with the added benefit of its very reasonable price–less than five dollars per disc. All of the major works are represented–as well as some more obscure pieces–in fine enough sound, considering the wide-ranging time period of these recordings (1953-1999). Nevertheless, the overriding factor in determining whether this set is right for you will depend on how particular you are about sound quality and performance style.

For instance, the set opens with one of the period’s most important works–Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s massive Te Deum, featuring soloists, chorus, and the full orchestration of its day. While this performance likely was very impressive when it was recorded in mono in 1953, compared to the immediacy and sheer visceral impact commonly heard in modern period-instrument performances (Minkowski on Archiv especially), it’s hardly a first choice. The same can be said of nearly all of the orchestral and chamber music represented here, mostly performed by the Jean-Francois Paillard Chamber Orchestra conducted either by Louis Martini or Paillard himself.

While nearly all of these selections were recorded in the stereo era, it’s likely many listeners today will find the homogenous blend of modern instruments combined with often-lugubrious tempos less than satisfying. Compared with the achievements of Savall (Astrée and Alia Vox), Christie (Harmonia Mundi and Erato), and the Kuijkens (Seon and Accent), the performances simply sound dull.

However, if you’re of a certain age and still have a nostalgic or sentimental attachment to this kind of performance style, there will be plenty for you to enjoy here. There are even some rarities, such as the compilation of solo harpsichord works performed by Laurence Boulay on Disc 9. Other listeners will want to wait and opt for more recent, engaging, and better-recorded single performances of the many masterpieces here.


Recording Details:

Album Title: COURT OF THE SUN KING
Reference Recording: See review

Various choral, orchestral, chamber, harpsichord, & organ works by Charpentier, Lully, Couperin, Rameau, others -

    Soloists: Maurice André (trumpet)
    Marie-Claire Alain, Maurice Duruflé (organ)
    Robert Veyron-Lacroix, Laurence Boulay (harpsichord)
    Martha Angelici (soprano)
    Philippe Huttenlocher (bass)
    others

  • Conductor: conductors, Various
  • Record Label: Erato - 67523
  • Medium: CD

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