Carlos V [Import]

Heinrich Isaac (Composer), French Anonymous (Composer), Juan del Encina (Composer), Josquin Desprez (Composer), Spanish Anonymous (Composer), Clement Janequin (Composer), Thoinot Arbeau (Composer), Antonio de Cabezon (Composer), Adrian Willaert (Composer), Alfonso X (el Sabio) (Composer), Cristobal de Morales (Composer), Girolamo Parabosco (Composer), Matheo [2] Flecha (Composer), Luys de Narvaez (Composer), Jordi Savall (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Jordi Savall
• Composer: Heinrich Isaac, French Anonymous, Juan del Encina, Josquin Desprez, Spanish Anonymous, et al.
• Audio CD (December 12, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Alia Vox Spain
• ASIN: B00004YWAG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,984 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ¡Vive el musica de Carlos V!, February 7, 2003

By 

ewomack "ewomack" (MN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Carlos V (Audio CD)

I purchased this CD without any information whatsoever after returning from a trip to Spain. I am generally a fan of "early music" (which is basically, according to CD store categorizations, almost everything written before 1600), so I'm used to buying CDs that I know nothing about. Sometimes I'm disappointed, but "Carlos V" is one of the most serendipitous purchases I have ever made. The first track is a haunting, beautiful and forlorn song about life's travails. The string arrangement almost sounds modern and the singing is astounding. It's a song that will stay with you, and you'll want to put it on again and again. The CD also has some festive party music on it that's more upbeat, but the CD and La Capella Reial de Catalunya shine brightest on the slow vocal songs. It's a difficult CD to describe, but if you're at all a fan of classical, early or renaissance music, you're likely to love this CD. My only regret is that I didn't look to see if La Capella Reial de Catalunya was playing anywhere when I was in Spain (Catalonia, to be precise). Maybe next time.

Lastly, there is a follow-up to this CD: "Alfons V El Magnamin" - it's a double CD and pricey, but well worth it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The life of an emperor in music, July 22, 2006

By 

Kenneth Rooney (Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carlos V (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful pot-pourri of European music from the first half of the sixteenth century - reflecting the pan-European origins of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain. One of the chief delights of the disc is the consort singing of the male voices of La Capella Real. Savall now uses male altos in the vocal pieces by Enzina (and others) in the upper registers, rather than female sopranos (principally that of his wife, Montserrat Figueras) as he did in his 90's recordings with Astree. The results are perfect; altos Carlos Mena and Pascal Bertain make an abiding impression here, with Capella regular Danile Carnovich holding up the bass clef. Figueras takes the cantus in the monophonic 'ballad' pieces, and is still matchless in this kind of music. The winds of La Capella are a joy to hear - listen to the Susato Battaglia, and the Anonymous La Spagna.
In short, this is an echanting survey of the secular and religious music of 16th century Europe, imaginatively presented and beautifuly performed and recorded. A must - and a fine companion to Savall's life of Isablle I of Spain, also from Alia Vox.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't go wrong, August 3, 2005

By 

J. TIMMERMAN (Lawson, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carlos V (Audio CD)

Hesperion XXIs recordings for ALIA VOX are generally even better than the ones they made for EMI, and this one is no exception. Great artistic care has been taken with the arrangements to make this music really accessible to a wide audience. Add to this a first rate realistic recording and you get a divinely beautiful and evocative sound.

The performances are of course faultless. The ensemble playing is extremely precise, the singing is strong and engaging and the individual instrumentalists are all able to creatively express themselves within the mix. Andrew Lawrence King on harp is captivating as always, and Jordi Savall's rich and creamy viol, well, simply the best.

A luxurious and mesmerising production.