Jordi Savall

[rubio]

Has anybody here heard both of Savall's recordings of Haydn's Seven Last Words and can comment on which is preferable?

 

[The new erato]

Are you sure they're not the same as Savall seems to have bought the rights to some of his earlier recordings and reissues them on his own label? And no - I don't know it/them.

[rubio]

Are you sure they're not the same as Savall seems to have bought the rights to some of his earlier recordings and reissues them on his own label? And no - I don't know it/them.

No, these are two different recordings. The Hurwitzer has reviewed them, but I don't trust him too much. At least, it would be nice to have some 2nd opinions.

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=11428

http://www.classicstoday.com/review.asp?ReviewNum=1706

[Que]

Has anybody here heard both of Savall's recordings of Haydn's Seven Last Words and can comment on which is preferable?

Rubio, not an answer to the question (do not know both recordings), but..

I read that the recordings have spoken Bible texts between movements - seems annoying.
Have you considered the version with chorus (and orchestra)? That version seems to me to work best of all.
I like Harnoncourt myself, but there is also Spering (Opus 111) and Equilbey (Naïve)

Q

[Opus106]

Found this through an electronic newsletter yesterday. I think it's interesting, and off-the-beaten-track music, even for an early music specialist.

Commissioned by the Cité de la Musique in Paris to come up with a series of concerts based on the theme of the three major monotheistic religions (Christianity, Judaism and Islam), Jordi Savall had the ingenious idea of creating a homage to the city of Jerusalem through an evocation of its rich history of more than 3000 years, in its continual search for peace.

Jordi Savall's project shows how the people of Jerusalem have always had great difficulty living together, but also how they can and have come together to create great things.

In order to give shape to such a complex musical and historical programme it is divided into seven chapters, each one containing key moments in the city's history. Three central chapters comprise a selection of the most representative music of the three main periods relevant to the three monotheistic religions.

Everything about the project is epic. In addition to his own ensembles (Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya) the cast is notable in that it includes Jewish and Palestinian singers and instrumentalists from Israel, as well as from Iraq, Armenia, Turkey, Morocco and Syria. A clear message here how different religions and cultures can come together.

The beautifully balanced programme fills two 78-minute hybrid SACDs and is supported by the most lavish colour hardback book you can imagine. It is over 400 pages long, translated into eight languages and weighs nearly a kilo. A beautiful and fascinating document which - as with so many of Jordi Savall's releases - you feel enrich your life as well as providing enjoyment.

Link. (It's the 29 Dec 2008 issue of the newsletter.)

[The new erato]

And much more on the Jerusalem disc here:

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2008/11/is-this-record.html

[Opus106]

And much more on the Jerusalem disc here:

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2008/11/is-this-record.html

Parts of the newsletter and the blog post seem to be uncannily similar.

[Lethevich]

And much more on the Jerusalem disc here:

http://www.overgrownpath.com/2008/11/is-this-record.html

Hehe, that article had such an annoying introduction that I couldn't be bothered to read on. Bloggers shouldn't try to be fancy...

[karlhenning]

I gave it a shot, but the rest was ultra fluff as well.

My heart jumped, then I realized you did mean a non-henningmusick blog 

[Sorin Eushayson]

That Jerusalem album looks really interesting...  I, too, will wait eagerly for some more reviews to come in. 

Due to the high level of excellence usually found in his recordings I listen to Savall's CD's with an extra-critical ear and I must say I've not been left wanting.  My favourite recording of the (Sussmayr-completed) Mozart Requiem...

[Rinaldo]

WQXR: Tous les Matins du Monde live @ Carnegie Hall

Le Concert des Nations,
Jordi Savall, Director and Viol
Manfredo Kraemer, Violin
Charles Zebley, Flute
Philippe Pierlot, Bass Viol
Daniel Swenberg, Theorbo
Luca Guglielmi, Harpsichord

Lully: Selections from Le bourgeois gentilhomme
—Marche pour la cérémonie des turcs
—Premier air des Espagnols
—Deuxième air des Espagnols
—Gavotte
—Canaries
—Chaconne des scaramouches
Sainte-Colombe: Concert a deux violes ésgales: Le retour
Anon. "Une jeune fillette"
Du Caurroy: Fantasies on "Une jeune fillette"
Marais Pièces de viole, Troisième livre
Marais Sonnerie de Ste-Geneviève du Mont-de-Paris
Couperin: Prelude, "Gracieusement" from Deuxième concert royal
Couperin: Muzette, "Naïvement" from Troisième concert royal
Couperin: Plainte pour les Violes: "Lentement et douloureusement" from Dixième concert royal
Rameau: Tambourin I et II from Pièces de clavecin en concert, Troisième concert
Sainte-Colombe: Concert a deux violes ésgales: Tombeau les regrets
Marais: "Les voix humaines" from Suite No. 3, Deuxième livre
Marais: Couplets de folies
Leclair: Sonata in D Major, Op. 2, No. 8

[Mandryka]

WQXR: Tous les Matins du Monde live @ Carnegie Hall

Le Concert des Nations,
Jordi Savall, Director and Viol
Manfredo Kraemer, Violin
Charles Zebley, Flute
Philippe Pierlot, Bass Viol
Daniel Swenberg, Theorbo
Luca Guglielmi, Harpsichord

Lully: Selections from Le bourgeois gentilhomme
—Marche pour la cérémonie des turcs
—Premier air des Espagnols
—Deuxième air des Espagnols
—Gavotte
—Canaries
—Chaconne des scaramouches
Sainte-Colombe: Concert a deux violes ésgales: Le retour
Anon. "Une jeune fillette"
Du Caurroy: Fantasies on "Une jeune fillette"
Marais Pièces de viole, Troisième livre
Marais Sonnerie de Ste-Geneviève du Mont-de-Paris
Couperin: Prelude, "Gracieusement" from Deuxième concert royal
Couperin: Muzette, "Naïvement" from Troisième concert royal
Couperin: Plainte pour les Violes: "Lentement et douloureusement" from Dixième concert royal
Rameau: Tambourin I et II from Pièces de clavecin en concert, Troisième concert
Sainte-Colombe: Concert a deux violes ésgales: Tombeau les regrets
Marais: "Les voix humaines" from Suite No. 3, Deuxième livre
Marais: Couplets de folies
Leclair: Sonata in D Major, Op. 2, No. 8

Interesting that they've cut out so much of the Ste Colombe, who not only is my preferred composer out of all of those remaining, but also is the main subject of the book. There's a lot more Ste Colombe on the sound recording, and there wasn't so much Lully and Couperin, they must have decided that this would work better in New York.

[Rinaldo]

Interesting that they've cut out so much of the Ste Colombe, who not only is my preferred composer out of all of those remaining, but also is the main subject of the book. There's a lot more Ste Colombe on the sound recording, and there wasn't so much Lully and Couperin, they must have decided that this would work better in New York.

I guess so. My favourite from the soundtrack – Le Badinage – was sorely missed.

[Carlo Gesualdo]

The forgotten Kingdom remain a solid release, It had plenty of listening on my side, everything perfect, the ambiance is godlike a blessing, the voices the instrumental tapestry that come whit it.

I am an harsh critic, to be honest quite frankly, some Jordi Savall I find them not that good neither  not that bad but standard.

But this release real pearls & diamonds a very good release I might had, a must have for medieval era lovers.

Anyone would agree whit me on this one, this is perhaps one of the best he did so far and that it short but sweet, tell what you think of this recording I find it dazzling good, astonishingly well done.

[Brian]

Hmm, I love the newish traveling series with the likes of "Istanbul" and "Balkan Spirit." But my family is Turkish so the music is in my blood, perhaps.

There's never been a better "Water Music."

[Ken B]

Catalan folks songs.

[Mandryka]

The forgotten Kingdom remain a solid release, It had plenty of listening on my side, everything perfect, the ambiance is godlike a blessing, the voices the instrumental tapestry that come whit it.

I am an harsh critic, to be honest quite frankly, some Jordi Savall I find them not that good neither  not that bad but standard.

But this release real pearls & diamonds a very good release I might had, a must have for medieval era lovers.

Anyone would agree whit me on this one, this is perhaps one of the best he did so far and that it short but sweet, tell what you think of this recording I find it dazzling good, astonishingly well done.

Have you heard the Heinrich Isaac CD?

He made many, many instrumental recordings, and especially viol recordings, which I think are wonderful. And many outstanding Bach recordings too.

Anyone explored the three Sibil recordings? This is the one I know best -- but there are at least two others

[pjme]

I like Savall's Llibre vermell a lot - the dvd is excellent:

https://www.youtube.com/v/9dk0GhcMYaY

El cant de la Sybil la is another mesmerising recording.

P.

[Mandryka]

Savall discography here

http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/performers/savall.html

Fan website here

http://www.classicalacarte.net/savall/jordi_savall.htm

It looks as though h's been shunned by the academic world, despite seeming to perform enormous quantities of often very obscure ancient music which must need quite a bit of musicological input. Does he have a tame musicologist? I can find no books on him and his work, his ideas; I can see no doctoral theses, academic conferences.

[Mandryka]

He's peformed  the Christmas Oratorio in Barcelona last night, and I think the concert is available briefly for download here

https://www.ccma.cat/catradio/alacarta/els-directes-de-catalunya-musica/jordi-savall-interpreta-per-primera-vegada-loratori-de-nadal-al-palau-de-la-musica-catalana-i/audio/1058256/