Disc Details

Works by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marin Marais, Sainte Colombe, & François Couperin
Montserrat Figueras (soprano); Maria Cristina Kiehr (soprano); Fabio Biondi (violin); Christophe Coin (bass viol); Jérôme Hantaï (bass viol); Rolf Lislevand (theorbo); Pierre Hantaï (harpsichord)

Le Concert des Nations

Jordi Savall

Alia Vox- 9821(CD)
Reference Recording – 1991 issue of same (Auvidis)

The SACD version has a fold out cardboard cover. The original CD from 1992 is the standard jewel box with booklet. The CD version is also available as a 2002 reissue but my example is the original 1992 version.

History

This is a “to die for” disc in ANY form!
I have both the CD and the SACD version and so I will try to define the differences between them, but let it be known that this music and the performance are brilliant!

If you are not familiar with the movie, don’t let that stop you from getting this music. If you like baroque music this is a stunner. If you would like to learn more about the movie or the book, this is the place to go :
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/misc/tlmdm.htm

Also, a very good movie review can be found here:
http://jclarkmedia.com/film/filmreviewtouslesmatins.html

A good review of the CD is available here :
http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=4828

Now, about that SACD …

Listening

I knew from the beginning that bettering the CD was going to be a tough job if at all possible. The CD is an excellent recording and has texture gallore as the recording is very close miked. Also, most of the pieces are either solo instrument with the viol (or viola da gamba) Composed by Jean de Sainte-Colombe and Marin Marais (played by Jordi Savall) or very small ensembles. However, the lead piece by Jean-Baptiste Lully (Le bourgeois gentilhomme, comédie-ballet, LWV 43 Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs) is a much larger ensemble performed by Le Concert des Nations and Conducted by Jordi Savall. But the quality of the recording is no less stunning here.

Switching to the SACD does give you less edge, but it is decidely a small improvement. What is more noticable is the space around the instruments and of the room that is greatly improved with the SACD version. The SACD is more relaxed, although this may be due to a lack of edge.
Where the differences really stand out are with the vocal pieces like “Une jeune fillette” performed by two incredibly beautiful sopranos. The CD gets rather shrill with the voices here where as the SACD stays rich and clear.

Another place of improvement is the dynamics. The first piece is a ceremonial marche by Jean-Baptiste Lully and is very lively and dynamic. The SACD handles this far better as the music increases in volume until the final repetition of the theme as well as the power of the percussion instruments. This is a hair raising piece and really could be my favourite piece of the disc just after “Sonnerie de Ste Genevieve du Mont-de-Paris”. Most of the music here is somber or I prefer to say melancholic. But “Sonnerie de Ste Genevieve du Mont-de-Paris” is far from melancholic and provides some very interesting counterpoint.

In any case, as this is one of my very favorite classical discs, any improvement is welcome, and we certainly do get it. This SACD will be one of my primary demo discs when friends want to hear something on my system.

Where to get it
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