Balbastre

[MickyD]

Anyone who loves the rich sound of French eighteenth century harpsichords should give this Sunday's programme a listen - Sophie Yates' new CD is ravishing to my ears. I'd love her now to tackle some Duphly, a composer still much underplayed in my view.

Having heard the quality of this disc, I'm tempted to sample Yates in her three Handel recitals - anyone have an opinion on those?

[ardcarp]

I heard the programme too. Balbastre was for me just a name on a series of random volumes remembered from the University library about 45 years ago. Yes, what we heard on EMS was good stuff, and I agree played beautifully on a fine instrument. It's very mainstream 18th cent French, but just a bit samey and without the character and occasional quirkiness of the older Couperin. I'm not sure I'd want to listen to a whole CD of it in one go. But that's just me.