François Couperin - Les Concerts Royaux – Jordi Savall -Alia Vox AVSA9840 (2005) SACD rip via PS3 to iso (3.11GB) | 24bit/88.2kHz flac | Mch (2.6GB) (+6dB gain) | 2ch (1.1GB) DR11 (+5.98dB gain) | Classical The sound quality on this CD, recorded in a French abbey, is exceptional. The depth and variety are marvellous. And, of course, Jordi Savall is once again a star. Couperin himself is a recent "discovery" for me (I'm a major Bach fan). After playing this through I immediately ordered several other Couperin CDs. I've enjoyed all of them, but this one is definitely the absolute best. --------------------------------- Allmusic review: Composed for the Sunday concerts of the aging Louis XIV, François Couperin's Concerts Royaux are as good as it gets for French Baroque chamber music. The lightness, the tenderness, the elegance, the etherealness, &, above all, the endearing poetry & enduring musicality of Couperin's works are as ingratiating today as they were 300 years ago. This is particularly true in this AliaVox recording by the international Le Concert des Nations led by bass violist Jordi Savall. One of the deepest & subtlest of all living musicians, Savall's interpretations are warmly affectionate, wittily humorous, wonderfully musical, & profoundly poetic. Savall & his players perform Couperin's 4 suites with a sympathy that passes into empathy & an understanding that becomes identification. As in the best jazz ensembles, one never senses a distinction between music & musician, but rather the complete unity of both. One could point out endless felicities -- the expressiveness of phrases, the phrasing of lines, the nuances of harmonies, the gracefulness of rhythms -- but it is the poetic unanimity of the playing that is most impressive. While there have been superlative recordings of Le Concert des Nations in the past -- one thinks of Monica Huggett's superb Trio Sonniere recording on ASV -- this recording will surely be the benchmark for years to come. AliaVox's digital sound is full, round, open, & easily as good as the best by any label in the world. Other review here: http://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-12035/ Tracks: 01. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Prélude. Gravement 02. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Allemande. Légèrement 03. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Sarabande. Mesuré 04. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Gavotte. Notes égales et coul 05. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Gigue. Légèrement 06. Premier concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in G major (Concerts royaux): Menuet en trio 07. Deuxième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in D major (Concerts royaux): Prélude. Gracieusement 08. Deuxième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in D major (Concerts royaux): Allemande fuguée. Gayement 09. Deuxième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in D major (Concerts royaux): Air tendre 10. Deuxième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in D major (Concerts royaux): Air contre fugué. Vivement 11. Deuxième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in D major (Concerts royaux): Echos. Tendrement 12. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Prélude. Lentement 13. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Allemande. Légèrement 14. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Courante 15. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Sarabande. Grave 16. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Gavotte 17. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Muzette. Naïvement 18. Troisième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in A major (Concerts royaux): Chaconne lègere 19. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Prélude. Gravement 20. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Allemande. Légèrement 21. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Courante françoise 22. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Courante à l'italiene 23. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Sarabande. Très tendrement 24. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Rigaudon. Légèrement et mar 25. Quatrième concert, for harpsichord (or violin, flute, oboe, viol & bassoon) in E minor (Concerts royaux): Forlane. Rondeau. 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