Unlike most of his contemporaries, who wrote grand pieces for large forces, François Couperin preferred to pen compositions for one or two solo voices and continuo. Out of an apparently complete set of Tenebrae lessons drawn from the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet, only three have survived, and they are presented on this CD along with two motets and a Magnificat, the latter three compositions scored for two sopranos and continuo. This is very expressive, exposed music; it takes superb musicians to make it work, for they must make the music sound like simplicity itself. Véronique Gens and Sandrine Piau are ideally suited to the task at hand. Both have lovely voices and sure enough technique, able to float their lovely sounds above the sparse organ and cello continuo while giving the text its full due. The recorded sound is ideally transparent and accurate in reproducing the performers. There is little more to say: these engaging readings are as good as it gets.
