Les Funérailles Royales de Louis XIV BLU-RAY + DVD
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LALANDE / CHIEN / COLIN / ANONYMOUS / etc
Les Funérailles Royales de Louis XIV BLU-RAY + DVD
Céline Scheen, Lucile Richardot, Samuel Boden, Marc Mauillon, Christian Immler / Pygmalion, Raphaël Pichon
[ Harmonia Mundi Blu-ray + DVD / 2 Blu-ray Disc/DVD ]
Release Date: Friday 23 February 2018
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The funeral of Louis XIV mirrored his reign: grandiose and filled with pathos. Raphaël Pichon has chosen the setting of the Chapelle Royale in Versailles, built 'for the use' of the Sun King, to present a musical reconstruction of the event, with chiaroscuro lighting designs by Bertrand Couderc. Solemn grands motets like the De profundis and Dies irae of Michel-Richard de Lalande and the poignant Marche funèbre pour le Convoy du Roy by André Danican Philidor are juxtaposed with rarely heard music by Jean Colin, Louis Chein and Charles d'Helfer. An outstanding performance by Pygmalion, filmed on the occasion of the tercentenary of the event, in November 2015.
"The performances are of the highest quality, and the video presentation masterly. The lighting has been sensitively arranged with candlelight illuminating the relative darkness, and both the plainchant and the solo muffled drums provide an emotionally gripping context. On a purely musical level, the Lalande pieces are given really stylish interpretations (from editions by Lionel Sawkins), not dominated by any one 'personality' but with outstanding performances from all singers and players involved. Very highly recommended." Choir & Organ
"A beguilingly dolorous musical experience… Pygmalion's elegantly sensual orchestral playing and choral singing are sensational from start to finish. Five soloists sing with impeccable gracefulness and fluency… There is vitality in Pygmalion's broadly emotive phrasing, thrilling harmonic tensions in choral climaxes, and a sculpted expression of refined catharsis." Gramophone DVD of the Month April 2018
