Credits:

Danila Tomassetti

Description:

The Ensemble Les Orphees is a French Baroque treasure, and their repertoire is centered on cantatas (cantata françaises) and chamber music from the French Baroque period. The ensemble Les Orphees presents a collection of Clérambault's masterpieces. Nicolas Clérambault (1676-1749), recognized by the Sun King Louis XIV, is considered one of the greatest composers of the French Baroque. During his lifetime, he produced five cantata collections and five independent cantatas. Cantatas in French, called cantatas françaises, originated in France, where three recitatives and an ale appear in the spoken language, and the final ale is a lesson, which was a common pattern (especially in the early years), but Clérambault's works do not always follow this pattern, and some of his cantatas have a recitative in the middle of the ale. However, Clérambault's works do not necessarily follow this pattern, and his free style, such as shifting to a recitative in the middle of the ale, gives them a unique charm. The "Orphée" recorded here is a masterpiece representing not only Clérambault but also the Cantata Française. The subject is taken from the famous Orfeo (Orfe) and Euridice (Euridice).The piece ends with a joyful scene in which Orfeo appeals for Euridice's return to Hades and is allowed to bring her back, and the music concludes with an ale in B major, a masterpiece full of originality by Clerambault. The other sonatas on this disc are also well performed, with each movement having its own distinct character, and the improvisations are superb. The recording, which captures the rich and lush tone of the instruments, is also very fine, and Clérambault's world of elegance and delicacy spreads out in abundance. King International