[ Hyperion / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 28 April 2017
L'Apothéose de Lully' was Couperin's homage to his great musical predecessor and depicts the elder composer's elevation to Mount Parnassus (where he plays duets with the shade of Corelli and, with Apollo's blessing, effects a reconciliation between the contrasting French and Italian styles of the day). The 'Leçons de ténèbres' were written for
performance in Holy Week and demand - and here receive from Katherine Watson and Anna Dennis - vocal artistry of the highest order.
'One of the particular delights of Cohen's Arcangelo is the idiomatic continuo-playing of the lutenist Thomas Dunford … the soprano Katherine Watson gives a stylish, sensitive performance' (Gramophone)
'Excellently recorded, these performances of the Leçons approach perfection' (BBC Music Magazine)
PERFORMANCE ****
RECORDING ****
'The concert instrumental is most beautifully played by the strings, with loving attention given to every detail but with no sense of tip-toeing from note to note' (Early Music Review)
PERFORMANCE ****
RECORDING ****
'Couperin's three 'Tenebrae lessons' … [are] beautifully sung here by sopranos Katherine Watson and Anna Dennis' (The Guardian)» More
'L'Apothéose de Lully [is] captured with grace in Arcangelo's playing … the sacred Leçons de ténèbres, sung with purity by sopranos Katherine Watson and Anna Dennis [reveal] another side to Couperin's art' (Financial Times)
'The coupling is Couperin's wonderful tribute to his predecessor Lully. All three works receive very fine performances' (MusicWeb International)
'This recording … offers an elegant and well performed chamber version of L'Apothéose de Lully' (MusicWeb International)
L'Apothéose de Lully
Lulli aux Champs Élisés: Concertant avec les Ombres liriques
Air pour les Mêmes
Vol, de Mercure aux Champs Élisés, pour avertir qu'Apollon y va descendre
Descente d'Apollon: qui vient offrir son Violon à Lulli; et sa place au Parnasse
Rumeur Souteraine: Causée par les auteurs-Contemporains de Lulli
Plaintes des Mêmes: pour des Flûtes, ou des Violons tres adoucis
Enlévement de Lulli au Parnasse
Accüeil entre-Doux, et -Agard, fait à Lulli par Corelli, et par les Muses italiénes
Remerciment de Lulli: à Apollon
Essai en forme d'Ouverture: Lulli et les Muses Françoises, Corelli et les Muses Italiénes
Air léger: Lulli, joüant le Sujet; et Corelli l'acompagnant
Second Air: Corelli joüant le Sujet, à son tour, que
LA PAIX DU PARNASSE: SONADE EN TRIO
Gravement
Saillie: Vivement
Rondement
Vivement
Leçons de ténèbres
Katherine Watson & Anna Dennis (soprano)
Première Leçon
Seconde Leçon
Troisième Leçon