ANDRÉ CAMPRA / HENRY DESMAREST
Desmarets & Campra : Iphigénie en Tauride Véronique Gens, Reinoud Van Mechelen, Thomas Dolié, David Witczak, Olivia Doray, Floriane Hasler; Tomislav Lavoie; Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / 2 CD - due 24/Jan/2025 ] Nearly a century before Gluck, another opera called Iphigénie en Tauride - same plot, same protagonists - had immense success on the opera stage. This 'first' Iphigénie has rather a curious history. |
GABRIEL FAURE / CHARLES GOUNOD
Fauré: Requiem - Gounod: Messe de Clovis EmÅ‘ke Baráth (soprano), Philippe Estèphe, Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Aug/2024 ] While Faure's Requiem is a monument of French sacred music, Gounod's Messe de Clovis is much less well known. It was composed from 1891 onwards as a tribute to Clovis who, like Joan of Arc, had become an iconic figure after the defeat of France in... |
MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER
Charpentier: Médée Véronique Gens, Cyrille Dubois, Judith van Wanroij, Thomas Dolié, David Witczak Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / 3 CD - released 22/Mar/2024 ] Médée, a tragedy in a prologue and five acts on a libretto by Thomas Corneille, was Marc-Antoine Charpentier's first and last collaboration with the Académie Royale de Musique. The work was premiered on 4 December 1693, when Charpentier was exactly... |
BRUNEAU / FRANCK / GODARD / MASSENET / BIZET / etc
Véronique Gens - Visions Véronique Gens (soprano), Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Jun/2017 ] "Gens and Niquet throw themselves into all this with an engrossing mix of abandon and restraint. Gens's trademark combination of purity of utterance and smoky tone speaks volumes." Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice, July 2017 |
DUBOIS / HAHN / FAURÉ / GOUNOD / CHAUSSON / SAINT-SAËNS
Paysage Véronique Gens (soprano), Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 12/Jul/2024 ] "Her soprano is in remarkably good shape, supple and elegant, her diction exemplary and her phrasing exquisite, deftly capturing the mood of each song." Gramophone Award Finalist - Voice & Ensemble |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: Armide 1778 (complete opera) Chantal Santon Jeffery, Katherine Watson, Véronique Gens, Tassis Christoyannis / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / 2 CD/Book - released 28/Aug/2020 ] Recording of the Month - BBC Music Magazine, November 2020 |
FELIX MENDELSSOHN
MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Mendelssohn: Psaume [Psalms]s La Chapelle Royale, Collegium Vocale, Philippe Herreweghe, with Peter Kooy (baritone), Eiddwen Harrhy (soprano), Hervé Lamy (tenor) [ Harmonia Mundi / CD - released 10/May/1988 ] "Elegant and fluent singing" - Gramophone |
ORAZIO BENEVOLO
Benevolo: Missa Azzolina / Magnificat / Dixit Dominus Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/1996 ] "The voices of Le Concert Spiritual provide an impressive body of sound...An accompanying note by Jean Lionnet provides a helpful background." BBC Music "It's worth more than they're asking - at this price, you can hardly miss" Fanfare |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Messe Solennelle Le Concert Spirituel / Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 8/Nov/2019 ] Composed in 1824 by Hector Berlioz at the age of twenty-one and premiered at the church of Saint-Roch in Paris in 1825, the Messe solennelle has come down to us following an eventful history. After Berlioz declared that he had destroyed the score,... |
JEAN-PAUL-EGIDE MARTINI
Martini: Requiem For Louis XVI Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Château de Versailles / CD - released 24/Apr/2020 ] When it comes to his illustration of music at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Martini had more to show than Plaisir d'Amour alone. The Bavarian would rise to glory at the French court and enjoy a privileged position amon the sovereigns. |
JOSEPH BODIN de BOISMORTIER
Boismortier - Ballets de Village Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Jan/2002 ] "These ballets are delightfully un-serious stuff." |
NICOLAS CLERAMBAULT
Clerambault: Le Triomphe D'iris / Pastorale (1706) Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/1999 ] "This is delightful, hearty music. Naxos has made another valuable addition to the recorded repertoire at a price that even the most penurious collector can afford." American Record Guide |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saëns: Phryné (complete opera) Orchestre de l'opéra de Rouen Normandie; Chœur du Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane / CD/Book - released 11/Feb/2022 ] "Florie Valiquette is a winning Phryné, and Cyrille Dubois all that you could hope for in a French tenor as her beloved Nicias - their Act II duet deserves to be much better known." BBC Music |
MARIN MARAIS
Marais: Sémélé (complete opera) Shannon Mercer, Benedicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjordis Thebault, etc / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 10/Mar/2018 ] "It's full of arresting, colourful music, much of it - not least the thrillingly vivid closing earthquake scene - worthy of Rameau, writing three decades on." (Sunday Times) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The French Romantic Experience Marc Minkowski, Hervé Niquet, François-Xavier Roth, Christophe Rousset, Diana Damrau, Véronique Gens, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, etc [ Bru Zane / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "Well worth anyone's attention, especially those attracted to the less familiar areas of 19th-century repertoire. In fact, I have rarely encountered a 'compilation' that has yielded so much listening pleasure" Gramophone |
FERNAND de la TOMBELLE
La Tombelle: Musique De Chambre, Chorale et Symphonique (complete operetta) Brussels Philharmonic, Hannes Minnaar (piano) Flemish Radio Choir, Jeff Cohen, Yann Beuron (tenor), Pascal Amoyel, Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello), Herve [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 15/Nov/2019 ] "The music's engaging, the performances decent, and the whole serves as a salutary reminder that you don't have to be a Beethoven to deserve a spot in the sun." The Times |
CHARPENTIER
Music for the Prix de Rome Brussels Philharmonic / Orchestra of Flanders / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 20/May/2012 ] |
SAINT-SAENS
Music for the Prix de Rome Julie Fuchs, Marina De Liso, Solenn’ Lavanant Linke, Bernard Richter / Brussels Philharmonic & Flemish Radio Choir, Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 20/Jan/2011 ] "The performances seem uniformly excellent and the sound quality is first-rate." (International Record Review) |
JOSEPH MICHEL
Michel: Lecons De Tenebres Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/1998 ] Recorded March/April 1997 |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: :Grand Motets, Vol. 2 Concert Spirituel Chorus, Herve Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 31/Jan/2000 ] "The performances here are first-rate, with an accomplished and idiomatic crew of soloists, and fine work from the band and chorus. These are still the only available recordings of three of the four motets. A real buy from Naxos. Warmly recommended."... |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: Grands Motets Vol.3 Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2000 ] |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Cantates et Musique Sacree Gabrielle Philiponet (soprano), Sébastien Droy (tenor) / Flemish Radio Choir, Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane Ediciones Singulares / 2 CD/Book - released 26/Jan/2018 ] "The choral singing has wonderful richness, clarity and fervour, above all in the Messe vocale, which is breathtaking. A tremendous set, it adds immeasurably to our understanding of Gounod's work. Very highly recommended indeed." Gramophone |
PAUL DUKAS
Dukas: Cantates, choeurs et musique symphonique Flemish Radio Choir & Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 13/Nov/2015 ] "These orchestral and choral performances are much more than adequate, and Hervé Niquet brings out every textural point he can in Dukas's scoring." Guardian |
FELICIEN DAVID
David: Christophe Colomb & Musique de chambre, symphonique et sacrée, etc Flemish Radio Choir, Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet, Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth [ Bru Zane Ediciones Singulares / 3 CD/Book - released 25/Aug/2017 ] "The performances are fabulous. François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles mine the textures and sonorities of Christophe Colomb for all their worth" Gramophone Editor's Choice Oct 2017 |
CLAUDE DEBUSSY
Debussy: Music for the Prix de Rome Guylaine Girard / Sophie Marilley / Bernard Richter / Alain Buet / Brussels Philharmonic / Orchestra of Flanders / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 16/Mar/2010 ] Claude Debussy presented himself as a candidate for the Prix de Rome on three separate occasions during the 1880s, the most innovative decade in the history of that competition; a time when success entitled the victors (at the French government's... |
PURCELL
Dido & Aeneas Laura Pudwell, Peter Harvey, Salomé Haller / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Glossa / CD - released 20/Aug/2013 ] "This lively account by Le Concert Spirituel, with mainly English singers, led by Laura Pudwell...but an excellent French chorus, is fresh and exhilarating, one or two dubious vocal decorations apart." Sunday Times, 21st July 2013 |
PAUL DUKAS
Oeuvres pour piano [Pieces for piano] Hervé Billaut (piano) [ Mirare / CD - released 15/Aug/2015 ] For the 150th anniversary of Paul Dukas, Herve Billaut's new CD focusses on his piano music. Out of the 14 works composed by Paul Dukas (only 14!), 6 were written for the piano. The two most substantial works are the Sonata of 1899-1900, and... |
REYNALDO HAHN
Reynaldo Hahn: L'île du rêve Hervé Niquet, Hélène Guilmette, Artavazd Sargsyan, Cyrille Dubois, Münchner Runddfunkorchester, Ludivine Gombert, Thomas Dolié, Chœur du Concert Spiri [ Bru Zane / CD/Book - released 23/Oct/2020 ] "To have written that, you must be a poet", Massenet told Reynaldo Hahn when he read through the score of L Île du rêve. Composed when the young man was not yet eighteen years old, this curtain-raiser already had the qualities of the great works of... |
ANDRE-MODESTE GRETRY
Gretry: Richard Coeur de Lion Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Château de Versailles Spectacles CD + DVD / 2 CD/DVD - released 25/Sep/2020 ] "An early example of the "rescue opera" genre, anticipating Beethoven's Fidelio, it's stylishly sung and robustly played. A DVD of the old-fashioned but charming staging is included." Sunday Times |
Herve/Lovett/Green/Sugitani
Waitin For Benny: A Tribute To [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Apr/2013 ] |
LOUIS-FERDINAND HEROLD
Herold: Piano Concertos Nos. 2, 3 and 4 Jean-Frederic Neuburger (piano) / Sinfonia Varsovia / Herve Niquet [ Mirare / CD - released 17/Aug/2011 ] When the doors of an operatic career opened for Hérold, around 1820, he took good care to hide away the piano concertos he had written shortly after 1810 so as to avoid accusations of eclecticism. Left to languish in obscurity until our own time,... |
CHARPENTIER
Lecons de Tenebres de la Semaine Sainte de 1692 Le Concert Spirituel / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice - June 2002 |
JOSEPH BODIN de BOISMORTIER
Boismortier: Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse Le Concert Spirituel (early music ensemble); Hervé Niquet [ Château de Versailles Spectacles / CD - released 23/Sep/2022 ] In 1743, two years before Rameau's Platee, Boismortier created an extraordinarily modern and madcap "comic ballet", Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse. As the exuberant plot unfurls, Cervantes' hero encounters monsters, enchanters, princesses and people... |
CHERUBINI / PLANTADE
Cherubini & Plantade: Requiems pour Louis XVI et Marie-Antoinette Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha / CD - released 17/Aug/2017 ] "Niquet brings fresh artistry and specifically French authority honed over decades with Le Concert Spirituel to both works. For me, this is a prize-winning disc" Gramophone Award Nomination 2017 - Choral |
ANTONIO VIVALDI
Vivaldi: Gloria & Magnificat Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 25/Jun/2021 ] Hervé Niquet and his Concert Spirituel offer a programme to the glory of Antonio Vivaldi: his Gloria and Magnificat, genuine masterpieces of sacred vocal music, demonstrate the same variety of styles, tempo and atmospheres that characterise his... |
BOISMORTIER
Daphnis et Chloe Le Concert Spirituel / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] Following on from Callirhoé (Destouches), Sémélé (Marais) and Proserpine (Lully), three important tragédies lyriques rescued from oblivion by Hervé Niquet and Le Concert Spirituel, Glossa is now restoring to the catalogue and within its collection of... |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: Grand Motets Vol. 1 Le Concert Spirituel / Herve Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 14/Sep/2007 ] "[Niquet] brings declamatory vigour, rhythmic incisiveness and, where the contrast exists, a gentler expressive sensibility to music that is redolent of those gestures typifying Bourbon absolutism during the Grand siècle...A stimulating issue...Once... |
DESMAREST
Grands Motets Le Concert Spirituel / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / CD - released 1/Oct/2009 ] "I can hardly wait for the next Desmarest recording, but in the meantime this one will certainly be keeping me happy." Gramophone |
HANDEL
Handel: Messiah 1754 Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha / 2 CD/Book - released 27/Oct/2017 ] Why yet another Messiah? 'I went through the different scores that exist and decided on the very interesting 1754 version, which features five soloists. You must remember that, when Handel arrived somewhere to perform his oratorio, he had soloists of... |
HENRY PURCELL
Purcell: King Arthur (complete opera recorded in 2009) Ana Maria Labin, Chantal Santon-Jeffrey, Melodie Ruvio / Le Concert Spirituel / Herve Niquet [ Glossa DVD / DVD - released 16/Mar/2010 ] G - "Directed by French comedy duo Corinne and Gilles Benizio… conductor Hervé Niquet's knockabout rewrite of King Arthur is as much a tribute to Monty Python as it is to Henry Purcell. Purists beware." (BBC Music) |