L'Escadron volant de la Reine - Notturno on CD

Description

'Notturno', the first disc by L'Escadron Volant de la Reine, The Flying Squadron of the Queen: a designation for the ladies-in-waiting recruited by Catherine de Médici, who were given the responsibility of 'diplomacy' [or intrigue] at the court. It is the result of several years' teamwork on Italian music of the late 17th century. L'Escadron Volant, founded in 2012, have chosen to record this Neapolitan repertoire (Caresana, Scarlatti, Veneziano) for its beauty, and because it corresponds exactly to the ensemble's forces. These are pieces for four instrumental parts: two violins, viola and basso continuo, and a vocal part - beautifully sung by Eugénie Lefebvre. They focus on works written for Holy Week, settings of the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah, works of somewhat mystical import that in each case begin with the declamation of a letter from the Hebrew alphabet: Aleph, Beth, Ghimel, Daleth, and so on. The CD booklet comes with a witty insert inviting the listener to take their seat continuing with an introduction to the cabin crew... Fasten your seatbelts: a splendid maiden flight! Review '[Cristofaro Caresana s] first lesson for the Tenebrae liturgy on Good Friday is sung in a direct yet eloquent manner by Eugénie Lefebvre, and the ensemble of strings, organ and theorbo plays with emotional breadth ... Lefebvre s ardently poetic singing is matched stride for stride by responsively contoured playing; the pathos-laden slower and softer sections are spellbinding ... the first lesson for Tenebrae on Holy Thursday receives an unfettered performance that shows clearly the link between the previous generation of Neapolitans and the next to come (Pergolesi). ... A few Scarlatti pieces provide some instrumental contrasts between the lessons, including an exquisitely played four-part sonata for strings (without harpsichord) and two sinfonias from Roman oratorios. An auspicious recording debut' 

Tracks

1. Lectio Prima Del Venerdi Santo (A Voce Sola Con Violini) - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
2. Sinfonia: Grave - - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
3. Allegro - - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
4. Largo - - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
5. Allegro - Presto - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
6. Lectio Terza Del Primo Notturno Del Venerdi Santo (A Voce Sola Con Violini) - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
7. Fuga - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
8. Largo - Allegro - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
9. Menuet - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
10. Allegro - Adagio (Sinfonia) - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
11. Incipit Lamentatio - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
12. Aleph: Quomondo Sedet Sola Civitas - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
13. Beth: Plorans Ploravit - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
14. Ghimel: Migravit Iudas - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
15. Daleth: Viae Sion - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
16. He: Facti Sunt - Lescadron Volant De La Reine
17. Jerusalem Convertere - Lescadron Volant De La Reine