Early Music on Record Review

[doversoul1]

29th November

9.05
HANDEL: Trio Sonatas Op. 2; Passacaglia: The Brook Street Band
Sonnerie and other portraits: Works by MARAIS / RAMEAU / FRANCOEUR / LECLAIR / DU PHLY / DORNEL: Fantasticu
FALVETTI: Nabucco: Cappella Mediterranea, Choeur de Chambre de Namur, Leonardo Garcia Alarcon (conductor)
Orient Occident II – Hommage a la Syrie: Hesperion XXI, Jordi Savall (conductor)


Falvetti is a new name to me:
Michelangelo Falvetti (1642–1692)
Of all Falvetti's numerous compositions the only ones which have come down to us intact are two magnificent 'dialoghi' for five or six voices respectively: 'Il diluvio universale' [1682] and 'Il Nabucco', performed in Messina in 1683
(from Presto Classical)

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Ambronay/AMY036

[Black Swan]

Interesting, I listened just wondering what other listeners thought of the Falvetti: Nabucco? I liked it but still haven't ordered. I felt the same about Orient Occident II. I am a huge fan of Jordi Savall and Hesperion XXI. I have just downloaded the Handel: Trio Sonatas Op. 2 and they are fantastic. I am enjoying this CD immensely.

[MickyD]

I have just heard those extracts from the Falvetti disc, too....I liked what I heard and thought it sounded very different from any other repertoire from this period. I may well be tempted!

[Black Swan]

Yes, same here. It is unique and I am thinking it may be worth a punt on the CD.

[MickyD]

The same group also did another Falvetti disc for the same label last year...you can hear clips on Amazon.fr...it sounds just as intriguing.

[Black Swan]

I've that as well and it gets rave reviews from the River People's site.

[Thropplenoggin]

MickyD et al: a performance of Falvetti's Nabucco with the same forces can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoYVhFc5zI

[doversoul1]

MickyD et al: a performance of Falvetti's Nabucco with the same forces can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoYVhFc5zI

This is great. Thank you!!

[MickyD]

MickyD et al: a performance of Falvetti's Nabucco with the same forces can be found on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugoYVhFc5zI

Grateful thanks indeed, Thropps...I will save it for a later date and enjoy listening.

Ah, how nice it is to have such kindred spirits on this messageboard!

[doversoul1]

7 December

11.45am
Disc of the Week

Lully: Phaëton
Phaëton ..... Emiliano Gonzalez Toro (tenor)
Clymène ..... Ingrid Perruche (soprano)
Théone, Astrée ..... Isabelle Druet (mezzo-soprano)
Libye ..... Gaëlle Arquez (mezzo-soprano)
Épaphus ..... Andrew Foster-Williams (bass-baritone)
Mérops, Automne, Jupiter ..... Frédéric Caton (baritone)
Protée, Saturne ..... Benoît Arnould (baritone)
Triton, le Soleil ..... Cyril Auvity (tenor)
Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset (conductor).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03knxjn

….here’s the whole thing (the concert performance)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pekZPcODgdw

…and a four star review.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/nov/20/lully-phaeton-talens-lyriques-rousset-review

…and here are bits to listen to

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Apart%25C3%25A9/AP061#listen

[doversoul1]

18 January

Mahan Esfahani and Poppea

10.30am
The convivial harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and the vivacious, multi-faceted critic & broadcaster Geoffrey Smith join Andrew to discuss all sorts of early strings, recently captured on disc.

..before this:
9.30am Building a Library
Tess Knighton with a personal recommendation from recordings of Monteverdi's final opera L'incoronazione di Poppea, with its exquisite closing duet

[ardcarp]

Very much looking forward to Poppea.
I have a strong mental image of 'a convivial harpsichordist'. I wonder if all the others look dour?

[Sir Velo]

Mahan Esfahani and Poppea

10.30am
The convivial harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani and the vivacious, multi-faceted critic & broadcaster Geoffrey Smith join Andrew to discuss all sorts of early strings, recently captured on disc.

Can anyone explain to me how being "convivial" or "vivacious" or even "multi-faceted" establishes one's credentials for reviewing this repertoire? Would not their being "experienced" or "knowledgeable" or even "scholarly" give one a greater sense of being in safe hands?

[doversoul1]

Can anyone explain to me how being "convivial" or "vivacious" or even "multi-faceted" establishes one's credentials for reviewing this repertoire? Would not their being "experienced" or "knowledgeable" or even "scholarly" give one a greater sense of being in safe hands?

I very much hope that 'experienced', 'knowledgeable' or ‘scholarly’ are the basic requirements (and taken for granted) to be invited to this programme unlike most Radio3 programmes these days. Convivial etc. may be additional distinctions?

[amateur51]

I'm rather looking forward to Esfahani and Smith in dialogue - or will Andrew insist on making it a threesome?