Customer Reviews

Carlos V

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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.

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.

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.

This is an excelent demonstration of how beautiful and modern is the music of Renaissance. I think it will be a nice surprise for undevoted. I advise this CD for everyone, it's really superb!!!

That is essentially the 'theme' of the CD. Thus it is not all 'Spanish' music per se but a collection including some old chestnuts from other lands. All that said, it is a superb collection and even the old chestnuts have new life breathed into them given the masterful treatment dished out here. The theme of 'Mille Regretz' appears over and over and we learn, read the notes!, that is is connected personally with Carlos V. Almost a personal theme from a 16th C. soundtrack as it were. A delightful recording.