Customer Reviews

Françoise Couperin: Leçons de Ténébres [Hybrid SACD]

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This is a truly outstanding recording of one of the great masterpieces of French sacred music. It became fashionable for a few years to perform Couperin's Leçons de Ténèbres with countertenors but, as reviewer Steven Boggs has already pointed out, here the work is rightfully returned to the voices for which it was written, namely sopranos. And what splendid sopranos they are - the lovely voices of Johannette Zomer and Anne Grimm, singing with deep sensitivity and in perfect baroque style. Ms Grimm takes the first Leçon, Ms Zomer the second; and in the glorious duetting of the Troisième Leçon, their rapport and the blend of their two distinctive voices are quite beautiful.

The instrumental accompaniment by the ensemble La Sfera Armoniosa, on organ, theorbo and viola da gamba, is equally fine - sensitive and understated in the best possible way. Theorbo player Mike Fentross directs superbly, varying the pace and intensity of the music together with the two singers in response to the profound feeling and drama in the words of Jeremiah's lamentations.

Couperin's three Leçons are interspersed here with two instrumental pieces, the first being Marin Marais' 'Les Voix Humaines' from his second book of Pièces de violes. This is played absolutely wonderfully by Paulina van Laarhoven on the viola da gamba, accompanied by the theorbo of Mike Fentross; so listeners with a heart, if such there be, be warned - it's moving enough to bring tears to your eyes. The other instrumental work, between Leçons two and three on the CD, is a lovely lute transcription by Robert de Visée of 'Les Sylvains' from Couperin's premier ordre. Again this is beautifully performed by Mike Fentross, and also offers a fine illustration of the close relationship between the baroque lute and keyboard repertory.

This, then, is a wonderful performance of Couperin's exquisite sacred work. Apart from the music itself, its great assets are two marvellous singers, the engaging instrumental playing, the sensitive and stylish direction of Mike Fentross, and the exceptionally felicitous arrangement of vocal and instrumental pieces. The catalogues already boast several fine recordings of Couperin's Leçons - several of them very favourably reviewed here on Amazon - and it would be a difficult task indeed to name a clear first choice among them. So I will simply say that, of the ones I know, the present disc is equal to the very best, and altogether it offers a beautiful, affecting and deeply satisfying experience.

The Leçons de Ténébres is one of the most beautiful liturgical compositions that I have ever heard and this SACD offering does it justice. The orchestration and the soprano vocals are magnificent and the sound quality is outstanding. After more critical listening sessions than I can count, this is now one of my favorite reference discs when I audition speakers because it covers the entire sonic sprectrum - subtle, reflective passages to bombastic full orchestration. If you are a fan of the French meets Italian styiling for which Couperin is best known, this is an excellent recording to add to your collection.

The Couperin "Lecons de Tenebres" were originally written for sopranos, but we have come to know the work mostly as performed by counter-tenors, first Alfred Deller, later Rene Jacobs, etc. This performance returns the work to its rightful owners, sopranos, who on this SACD do an excellent job. Other soprano based performances include Nelson and Kirkby on L'Oiseau-Lyre.