BaL 14.06.14 - Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin

[Nick Armstrong]

Yet again you speak my thoughts, ferns

Going to listen again now - bit too much singing for my liking on CDR now ... and I fell asleep in BAL first time round

Just time to fit it in again before the Walton

[Nick Armstrong]

here too. I have the nice L'Oiseau-Lyre box and don't anticipate any burning need to change...

... Well confirmation for my Rousset box, and I'd forgotten that of course I also have the Tharaud for some wonderful piano treatment.

A pleasingly cheap as well as interesting BAL!

[ardcarp]

If it weren't for the fact that he totally ruined my favourite Radio station, I'd quite like Nicholas Kenyon. As a reviewer he seems engaged, open-minded and enthusiastically communicative.

I agree up to a point...but he was quite rude about performers he didn't like, e.g. Alan Cuckston (who incidentally liked to be pronounced COOKston). I'm not saying NK shouldn't express his opinion, merely that there is no need to be brusque to the point of causing offence. He was also a bit testy about some others he dismissed.

BTW, did Glen Gould ever record any Rameau?

[Lordgeous]

I thought it an excellent survey from NK and pleased that pioneering George Malcolm got a mention (nostalgia: I was page turner for those Argo sessions!). Was also surprised how well many of the piano versions worked.

[ardcarp]

pleased that pioneering George Malcolm got a mention

I'm waiting for those big clunky harpsichords to come back into fashion! As a schoolkid, I just loved GM's Bach Goes to Town EP. Anyone else remember it?

[Lordgeous]

I'm waiting for those big clunky harpsichords to come back into fashion! As a schoolkid, I just loved GM's Bach Goes to Town EP. Anyone else remember it?

Of course. I still have it!

[MickyD]

I thought NK did very well, too, managing to include all the versions I have known over the years, and I would certainly agree with his first choice of Rousset. However, let's hope it won't be too long before some of the new generation of harpsichordists give us their take on these fabulous pieces.

[reinerfan]

According to the programme, the Rousset recording is available as a download, but the Decca site does not list it. Can anyone suggest an alternative, please?

[Don Petter]

According to the programme, the Rousset recording is available as a download, but the Decca site does not list it. Can anyone suggest an alternative, please?

Is this not it?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rameau-Pi%C3%A8ces-Clave%C3%A7in-2-CDs/dp/B0096NH44M/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1402819750&sr=8-2&keywords=rameau+rousset

[Bryn]

According to the programme, the Rousset recording is available as a download, but the Decca site does not list it. Can anyone suggest an alternative, please?

If you want lossless downloads, rather than Amazons c. 256kbps VBR mp3s, try Qobuz. Just search there for Rameau Rousset. They are asking a little over €20, and you can choose the lossless codec to suit your circumstances. You may need to email them to permit downloads to the UK. Presto Classical have lossless downloads of the album for £15.85.

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/r/Decca/4258862#download

[HighlandDougie]

Can anyone suggest an alternative, please?

I've just ordered a used copy of the 2CD set from a marketplace seller on amazon.com. There still seems to be a used copy from the nextpagebooks at $19.98 to which, though, you have to add postage (the seller lists international shipping rates). See

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00000E46C/sr=1-1/qid=1402821895/ref=olp_tab_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=1402821895&sr=1-1

No great bargain but cheaper than what seems to be available in the UK/Europe and as CDs in rather better sound quality than an MP3 download. Given the current reasonably good $/£ exchange rate, it should be below the customs threshold at that price.

[BBMmk2]

I am having to go through a Baroque Period season, I think. I have neglected this quite a bit of late. Rameau, Vivaldi etc.....

[MickyD]

I seem to recall that Universal re-released the Rousset set some years ago as part of their Decca/Philips Great Recordings series. It is tragic that it is no longer available...also all the recordings that Rousset made for Decca of other French repertoire - D'Anglebert, Forqueray, Le Roux, Royer etc. They are wonderful and I cherish those original CDs.

[Bryn]

Who knows? This BaL recommendation might just be the fillip needed to get Decca to put out a Rousset collected recordings box.

[MickyD]

Who knows? This BaL recommendation might just be the fillip needed to get Decca to put out a Rousset collected recordings box.

Bryn, let's hope you are right...they are far too good to languish in the vaults.