Notes and Editorial Reviews
La Barcha d'Amore is a specially-priced collection of vocal and instrumental music inspired by mythology and 17th-century European love poetry.
This 68-minute program--a compilation of recordings made by Jordi Savall, Montserrat Figueras & Co. during the years 1976 and 2008 (including several selections originally released on dhm and Virgin Classics)--proved one of those purely pleasurable, effortlessly rewarding listening sessions that only rarely come along. We don't often review compilations drawn from multiple recordings made in different venues and over many years--they're so often programmatically disjointed and sonically varied; but in this case it doesn't matter. The music
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is compatible stylistically and these performers are so consistent in the quality and care and vitality of their performances that, well, what's 30 years or so?
In the three Caccini selections Figueras shows why her voice and expressive powers must be the envy of all other singers of this repertoire--or at least the model to which they aspire. Is there a more sensuous, clear, articulate, consummately musical singer in the entire early-music field? Not only is every word and phrase eloquently shaped and shaded, but few if any singers can execute those little fluttery ornamental runs the way she does, so free of effort, so affecting, so important to conveying the songs' inherent personality and passionate feeling. And these pieces also are models of sensitive, artful partnership, Hopkinson Smith's lute and theorbo providing ideally matched accompaniment.
This same mastery of detail and sympathetic ensemble marks Savall's gamba playing in such pieces as the selection from Lully's Le Divertissement Royal, in concert with his Le Concert des Nations colleagues. And there are some fine tunes on display as well, including "Une Jeune Fillette", sung by Figueras and Maria Cristina Kiehr, and Savall's variations on "Greensleeves". The program ends with a grand Chaconne by Lully, an excellent conclusion that vibrantly captures the full-bodied timbres of Le concert des Nations. As usual, Jordi Savall's notes are insightful and informative, and unlike many such compilations from other labels, Alia Vox offers full texts and translations of the vocal selections (in six languages!), beautifully packaged. A very worthwhile, entertaining release.
--David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording
1.
Variations on "Greensleeves" by Jordi Savall
Period: 20th Century
2.
Une jeune fillette by Traditional
Performer:
Maria Cristina Kiehr (Voice),
Rolf Lislevand (Theorbo),
Montserrat Figueras (Soprano),
Maria Cristina Kiehr (Soprano),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice)
Period: Renaissance
Written: France
Length: 2 Minutes 1 Secs.
Notes: Arranger: Jordi Savall.
3.
Les divertissemens (8) des vieux ballets: Le Divertissement Royale [1664-70] by Jean-Baptiste Lully
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Le Concert des Nations
Period: Baroque
Written: Paris, France
4.
L'amour médecin, LWV 29: Chaconne by Jean-Baptiste Lully
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1665; France
5.
Le nuove musiche: Excerpt(s) by Giulio Caccini
Performer:
Montserrat Figueras (Soprano),
Hopkinson Smith (Lute),
Jordi Savall (Bass Viola Da Gamba),
Robert Clancy (Guitar)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Schola Cantorum Basiliensis
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1602; Italy
6.
La Barcha del mio amore by Giacomo Gorzanis
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XXI
Period: Renaissance
Length: 1 Minutes 57 Secs.
7.
Amor ch'attendi by Giulio Caccini
Performer:
Hopkinson Smith (Theorbo),
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1614; Italy
Length: 2 Minutes 19 Secs.
8.
Alme luci beate by Giulio Caccini
Performer:
Montserrat Figueras (Voice),
Hopkinson Smith (Theorbo)
Period: Baroque
Length: 3 Minutes 34 Secs.
9.
Le nuove musiche: Non ha 'l ciel cotanti lumi by Giulio Caccini
Performer:
Hopkinson Smith (Theorbo),
Robert Clancy (Guitar),
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice),
Xenia Schindler (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1602; Italy
Length: 2 Minutes 38 Secs.
10.
Passacalio by Biagio Marini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XX
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century
Length: 5 Minutes 46 Secs.
11.
Madrigals, Book 8: Non havea Febo "Lamento della ninfa" by Claudio Monteverdi
Performer:
Francesc Garrigosa (Tenor),
Lambert Climent (Tenor),
Daniele Carnovich (Bass),
Montserrat Figueras (Soprano)
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1638; Italy
12.
Paduan Dolorosa A 4 Voc. Cantus V by Samuel Scheidt
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XX
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1621; Halle, Germany
Length: 7 Minutes 27 Secs.
13.
Ludi musici, Book 1: Cantus no 9, Courant dolorosa à 4 by Samuel Scheidt
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XX
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1621; Halle, Germany
Length: 2 Minutes 29 Secs.
14.
Sosieguen descansen by Sebastián Durón
Performer:
Montserrat Figueras (Voice),
Ton Koopman (Harpsichord),
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1680; Seville, Spain
Length: 5 Minutes 22 Secs.
15.
No te embarques by Juan del Vado
Performer:
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba),
Ton Koopman (Harpsichord),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Spain
Length: 2 Minutes 35 Secs.
16.
Ay, que me rio de Amor by Juan Hidalgo
Performer:
Montserrat Figueras (Voice),
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba),
Ton Koopman (Harpsichord)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; Madrid, Spain
Length: 1 Minutes 55 Secs.
17.
Desperada by Anonymous
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XX
Period: Renaissance
Written: England
Length: 1 Minutes 48 Secs.
18.
My sweet little darling by Anonymous
Performer:
Imke David (Viola da gamba),
Jordi Savall (Viola da gamba),
Sergi Casademunt (Viola da gamba),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice),
Lorenz Duftschmid (Viola da gamba)
Period: Renaissance
Length: 3 Minutes 58 Secs.
19.
Greensleeves to a Ground by Anonymous
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Hespèrion XXI
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; England
Length: 8 Minutes 56 Secs.
20.
Le Divertissement Royal - Rondeau du Mariage forcé by Jean-Baptiste Lully
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Le Concert des Nations
Period: Baroque
Length: 2 Minutes 34 Secs.
21.
La Folia: Yo soy la Locura by Du Bailly
Performer:
Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp),
Montserrat Figueras (Voice)
Length: 2 Minutes 37 Secs.
22.
L'amour médecin, LWV 29: Chaconne by Jean-Baptiste Lully
Conductor:
Jordi Savall
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Le Concert des Nations
Period: Baroque
Written: by 1665; France
Length: 3 Minutes 29 Secs.
Notes: Arranger: Jordi Savall.
Featured Sound Samples
Madrigals, Book 8 (Monteverdi): Non havea Febo "Lamento della ninfa"
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