Performer: Annick Massis, Magdalena Kozena, Eric Huchet, Russell Smythe, Patrick Henckens , Francoise Masset, et al.
Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre
Conductor: Marc Minkowski
Composer: Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: Arkhiv
Size: 221 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
02. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
03. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
04. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
05. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
06. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
07. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
08. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
09. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
10. Te Deum for Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra, H 146
11. In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416 – Nuit
12. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Kyrie
13. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Christe
14. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Gloria
15. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Credo
16. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Offertoire: Laissez paitre vos bestes H. 531 b
17. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Sanctus – Benedictus
18. Messe de Minuit, H. 9 – Agnus Dei
Five stars for Nuit alone! The rest is fantastic, too
As I mentioned in the title, the “Nuit” instrumental interlude is worth the price of this disc, however, this recording is a real winner on every level and no lover of Baroque music should be without it.
Many people, perhaps most people, will recognise the Rondeau from the Te Deum. I think it was used during the World Cup, or was it the Olympics, some years ago. Minkowski’s Les Musiciens du Louvre use a bass natural trumpet here, along with the regular clarini, and the affects/effects here are very powerful. The Te Deum is a grand work and full of M-A Charpentier’s great creativity and vision. I think he was one of the very greatest Baroque composers – up there with Biber, Purcell, Corelli and Rosenmüller in his own age.
The Midnight Mass is a beautiful work, again one familiar to many because of its associations with Christmas and its use of Christmas carol melodies. The Messe de Minuit is scored for voices, recorders and strings and it offers a perfect contrast to the Te Deum with its trumpets, timpani, oboes, bassoons and strings.
The soloists are Early Music regulars and many will be interested in hearing what Magdalena Kozená was like back in 1997, when this recording was made. In some ways, I think she was better then, before she was coaxed into a solo career by DG/Universal. Maybe they thought she was too beautiful and luxurient looking to be a mere ensemble singer in Baroque sacred music and a part player in French Baroque opera?
This recording sounds very impressive through a big sound system. A “audiophile” CD.
Thanks