BRUNEAU / FRANCK / GODARD / MASSENET / BIZET / etc
Véronique Gens - Visions Véronique Gens (soprano), Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 23/Jun/2017 ] "Gens and Niquet throw themselves into all this with an engrossing mix of abandon and restraint. Gens's trademark combination of purity of utterance and smoky tone speaks volumes." Gramophone Magazine Editor's Choice, July 2017 |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: Armide 1778 (complete opera) Chantal Santon Jeffery, Katherine Watson, Véronique Gens, Tassis Christoyannis / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / 2 CD/Book - released 28/Aug/2020 ] Recording of the Month - BBC Music Magazine, November 2020 |
ORAZIO BENEVOLO
Benevolo: Missa Azzolina / Magnificat / Dixit Dominus Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/1996 ] "The voices of Le Concert Spiritual provide an impressive body of sound...An accompanying note by Jean Lionnet provides a helpful background." BBC Music "It's worth more than they're asking - at this price, you can hardly miss" Fanfare |
HECTOR BERLIOZ
Berlioz: Messe Solennelle Le Concert Spirituel / Hervé Niquet [ Alpha Classics / CD - released 8/Nov/2019 ] Composed in 1824 by Hector Berlioz at the age of twenty-one and premiered at the church of Saint-Roch in Paris in 1825, the Messe solennelle has come down to us following an eventful history. After Berlioz declared that he had destroyed the score,... |
JEAN-PAUL-EGIDE MARTINI
Martini: Requiem For Louis XVI Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Château de Versailles / CD - released 24/Apr/2020 ] When it comes to his illustration of music at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Martini had more to show than Plaisir d'Amour alone. The Bavarian would rise to glory at the French court and enjoy a privileged position amon the sovereigns. |
JOSEPH BODIN de BOISMORTIER
Boismortier - Ballets de Village Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet, conductor [ Naxos / CD - released 15/Jan/2002 ] "These ballets are delightfully un-serious stuff." |
NICOLAS CLERAMBAULT
Clerambault: Le Triomphe D'iris / Pastorale (1706) Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/Jan/1999 ] "This is delightful, hearty music. Naxos has made another valuable addition to the recorded repertoire at a price that even the most penurious collector can afford." American Record Guide |
CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS
Saint-Saëns: Phryné (complete opera) Orchestre de l'opéra de Rouen Normandie; Chœur du Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane / CD/Book - released 11/Feb/2022 ] "Florie Valiquette is a winning Phryné, and Cyrille Dubois all that you could hope for in a French tenor as her beloved Nicias - their Act II duet deserves to be much better known." BBC Music |
MARIN MARAIS
Marais: Sémélé (complete opera) Shannon Mercer, Benedicte Tauran, Jael Azzaretti, Hjordis Thebault, etc / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 10/Mar/2018 ] "It's full of arresting, colourful music, much of it - not least the thrillingly vivid closing earthquake scene - worthy of Rameau, writing three decades on." (Sunday Times) |
VARIOUS COMPOSERS
The French Romantic Experience Marc Minkowski, Hervé Niquet, François-Xavier Roth, Christophe Rousset, Diana Damrau, Véronique Gens, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, etc [ Bru Zane / 10 CD Box Set - released 1/Nov/2019 ] "Well worth anyone's attention, especially those attracted to the less familiar areas of 19th-century repertoire. In fact, I have rarely encountered a 'compilation' that has yielded so much listening pleasure" Gramophone |
FERNAND de la TOMBELLE
La Tombelle: Musique De Chambre, Chorale et Symphonique (complete operetta) Brussels Philharmonic, Hannes Minnaar (piano) Flemish Radio Choir, Jeff Cohen, Yann Beuron (tenor), Pascal Amoyel, Emmanuelle Bertrand (cello), Herve [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 15/Nov/2019 ] "The music's engaging, the performances decent, and the whole serves as a salutary reminder that you don't have to be a Beethoven to deserve a spot in the sun." The Times |
CHARPENTIER
Music for the Prix de Rome Brussels Philharmonic / Orchestra of Flanders / Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 20/May/2012 ] |
SAINT-SAENS
Music for the Prix de Rome Julie Fuchs, Marina De Liso, Solenn’ Lavanant Linke, Bernard Richter / Brussels Philharmonic & Flemish Radio Choir, Herve Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 20/Jan/2011 ] "The performances seem uniformly excellent and the sound quality is first-rate." (International Record Review) |
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU
Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour, ou Les Dieux d'Égypte Carolyn Sampson, Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Blandine Staskiewicz, Jennifer Borghi, etc / Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet [ Glossa / 2 CD - released 1/Nov/2014 ] "Few ensembles do French baroque as well as Le Concert Spirituel with their conductor Hervé Niquet. There's a real understanding here of the innate sexiness of this music...orchestral and choral sound is wonderfully rich without ever turning pompous" |
JOSEPH MICHEL
Michel: Lecons De Tenebres Le Concert Spirituel, Herve Niquet [ Naxos / 2 CD - released 12/Dec/1998 ] Recorded March/April 1997 |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: :Grand Motets, Vol. 2 Concert Spirituel Chorus, Herve Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 31/Jan/2000 ] "The performances here are first-rate, with an accomplished and idiomatic crew of soloists, and fine work from the band and chorus. These are still the only available recordings of three of the four motets. A real buy from Naxos. Warmly recommended."... |
JEAN-BAPTISTE LULLY
Lully: Grands Motets Vol.3 Le Concert Spirituel; Hervé Niquet [ Naxos / CD - released 1/May/2000 ] |
CHARLES GOUNOD
Gounod: Cantates et Musique Sacree Gabrielle Philiponet (soprano), Sébastien Droy (tenor) / Flemish Radio Choir, Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane Ediciones Singulares / 2 CD/Book - released 26/Jan/2018 ] "The choral singing has wonderful richness, clarity and fervour, above all in the Messe vocale, which is breathtaking. A tremendous set, it adds immeasurably to our understanding of Gounod's work. Very highly recommended indeed." Gramophone |
PAUL DUKAS
Dukas: Cantates, choeurs et musique symphonique Flemish Radio Choir & Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet [ Bru Zane / 2 CD/Book - released 13/Nov/2015 ] "These orchestral and choral performances are much more than adequate, and Hervé Niquet brings out every textural point he can in Dukas's scoring." Guardian |
FELICIEN DAVID
David: Christophe Colomb & Musique de chambre, symphonique et sacrée, etc Flemish Radio Choir, Brussels Philharmonic, Hervé Niquet, Les Siècles, François-Xavier Roth [ Bru Zane Ediciones Singulares / 3 CD/Book - released 25/Aug/2017 ] "The performances are fabulous. François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles mine the textures and sonorities of Christophe Colomb for all their worth" Gramophone Editor's Choice Oct 2017 |