Rating: 5/5
Review:
One of Savall's best
I confess that I find quite a lot of the Lully I have heard on disc to be a little laboured and over-courtly, but this excellent disc from Jordi Savall and Le Concert des Nations is an unalloyed delight from beginning to end. It consists of Suites compiled from some of Lully's works for the court of Louis XIV and it is packed with melody, harmonic invention and a wonderful range and variety of styles and instrumental colour.
What makes it really special is the playing of the ensemble. Savall judges the mood and tempo of every movement beautifully. There is terrific verve in the dancing and military movements, and the slower movements are very beautiful and often genuinely affecting. Savall has made dozens of really good recordings but I think his is one of his best - which is really saying something.
The recorded sound is excellent, the presentation is of Alia Vox's usual beautiful standard and the notes full and interesting. It's a really terrific disc all round and very warmly recommended to anyone with even the smallest interest in music of this period.
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