|
The
Sultan and the Phoenix
French viol
music by members of the Couperin family and their contemporaries
Charivari Agréable
Susanne Heinrich
Lynda Sayce
Susanna Pell
Kah-Ming Ng
with
Sarah Groser
Reiko Ichise
Asako Morikawa
|
"eminently listenable and musically satisfying ... an intelligently created and expertly played
program that shouldn't be overlooked by fans of Baroque
instrumental chamber music.” ClassicsToday.com |
| |
“Above all this comes across as a very good concert which
will give much pleasure to its listeners. Early Music Review |
| |
|
“I love the rich sound they make in their own version of
Louis Couperin's keyboard piece La Piémontoise.” Radio 3 - CD Review |
Louis (c.1626-1661), François le Grand (1668-1733) and Armand-Louis
(1727-1789) were the three most celebrated members of the distinguished
Couperin family of musicians who flourished from the late 16th century
until the middle of the 19th, holding a position of esteem parallel to
that of the Bachs in Germany.
The Sultan and the Phoenix presents both masterpieces and rare gems from
the Couperins and their contemporaries, all delivered with a rare insight
by the ensemble charivari agréable. The programme presents an overview of
the ensemble use of the viol in its various manifestations and stages of
evolution in France. The Couperin dynasty offers a convenient
chronological framework within which the viol could be heard in various
guises: from a consort setting to a ‘pièces de clavecin en concerts’
configuration; from a six-string bass viol to a five-string hybrid ‘quinton’.
Underpinning this programme is the historical practice of adaptation,
transcription and arrangement with which French baroque music is replete.
Historical tradition is followed by the arrangement of some pieces by the
players. Some involved direct transcription, such as the
L. Couperin Pavan for a viol consort or the F. Couperin harpsichord piece
for theorbo (in the style of de Visée, see above). Other pieces are left
untouched, such as L. Couperin’s Fantaisies and Corrette’s Phénix, as
well as the large-scale chamber works of Dornel and Couperin.
Charivari Agréable’s reputation as one of the most original ensembles
in the period-instrument scene was recently articulated by the BBC Music
Magazine, which noted that the ensemble “has carved something of a niche
for itself in imaginative and well thought-out programming”, reasoning
that its work is the fruit of both scholarly research and charismatic
musicianship, a combination which puts it at the forefront of
period-instrument ensembles.
This recording is refreshing and rewarding. Charivari Agréable is a rare
combination with a distinct sound and sonority, displaying sincere empathy
and love for the repertory they choose to record. |
|
