Montserrat Figueras

[huntsman]

I would really appreciate any recommendations you have of her work. I have heard only a smattering, and was blown away.

Many thanks! 

[Marc]

Just for a (small) start, two (small) necrologies:

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19599.0.html

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,19619.0.html

[huntsman]

Yeah - I realised she was dead...very sad.

Now to celebrate her life...! 

If anyone knows and can recommend her music, please share the info.

[Marc]

I posted those links mainly because of the recommendations:

Harry: her earlier recordings in general.
Val: Guerrero's Sacrae Cantiones, recorded in 1992.
Marc: El Cant de la Sibilla.

[Mandryka]

I would really appreciate any recommendations you have of her work. I have heard only a smattering, and was blown away.

Many thanks! 

You've got to be open to the Savall thing to like these, you've got to like plush, beautiful. You've got to kick back and let it all wash over and soak in. Light some incense, smoke a joint.  I love these things when I'm in the mood to chill after a days hard work listening to Haydn and Bach:

 

[huntsman]

Man you can sell ice to an Inuit... I'm sold! 

[huntsman]

I posted those links mainly because of the recommendations:

Harry: her earlier recordings in general.
Val: Guerrero's Sacrae Cantiones, recorded in 1992.
Marc: El Cant de la Sibilla.

Noted Marc, and thank you.

Everything I've heard about her and Savall promises some superb additions to my small collection. 

[Octave]

huntsman and all, in case you are checking out val's recommendation above of the Guerrero, that has been reissued in a 3-sacd set here:

[asin]B0026S1XVO[/asin]
Morales, Victora, Guerrero (Jordi Savall et al)

I'm sorry I can't reference how extensive Monteserrat Figueras' participation is throughout all three discs (I'm away from my stacks); but I loved all three when I first listened to them.  I am overdue to get them out again.  FWIW, presto seems to have this for ~$18 as part of its "early music" sale (which includes apparently the whole Alia Vox catalog).

I also remember thinking her NINNA NANNA album of lullaby music was exactly what I wanted to hear when I heard it; that was perhaps several years ago, I should listen to that again as well.  I think there are even a couple Pärt songs [no pun intended] on that album, in addition to much older music.

[huntsman]

That looks like a fine deal, Octave, but I've just ordered two others so I'll hold it in a 'mental Wish Box'. Strange that Presto don't offer that facility...

[Octave]

You've got to be open to the Savall thing to like these, you've got to like plush, beautiful. You've got to kick back and let it all wash over and soak in. Light some incense, smoke a joint.  I love these things when I'm in the mood to chill after a days hard work listening to Haydn and Bach[...]

Alia Vox HQ agrees with you!

Did you know that most Alia Vox albums were recorded between 1 and 4 am? Not only because of tight recording schedules, but also because the night creates an very special quality of silence....

(from MUSICA NOTTURNA press release, it seems) - Savall et al: what a bunch of stoners!

[Mandryka]

I listen to the Alfons V El Magnanim album very often. I think it's magical, one of the very great music CDs.

[arkiv]

Crystalline projection.

http://www.youtube.com/v/nlXux5UWaD0

[Ken B]

Oop but available in mp3

[asin]B002JJ4VQ4[/asin]

Incredible record.

[The new erato]

I listen to the Alfons V El Magnanim album very often. I think it's magical, one of the very great music CDs.

That's a magic disc indeed.

[Octave]

Oop but available in mp3
[...]
Incredible record.

Pretty sure this was reissued on SACD in 2011.  The physical disc seems to contain all the tracks from your mp3 link, but in a different order and with a couple additional tracks.

[asin]B004PCICEK[/asin]
Monteserrat Figueras: Cancons de la Catalunya mil-lenaria (Alia Vox, 2011 reissue)

[Ken B]

Pretty sure this was reissued on SACD in 2011.  The physical disc seems to contain all the tracks from your mp3 link, but in a different order and with a couple additional tracks.

[asin]B004PCICEK[/asin]
Monteserrat Figueras: Cancons de la Catalunya mil-lenaria (Alia Vox, 2011 reissue)

Indeed. Cool.

[petrarch]

Pretty sure this was reissued on SACD in 2011.  The physical disc seems to contain all the tracks from your mp3 link, but in a different order and with a couple additional tracks.

[asin]B004PCICEK[/asin]
Monteserrat Figueras: Cancons de la Catalunya mil-lenaria (Alia Vox, 2011 reissue)

The original on Astrée/Naive has an instrumental version of El cant dels aucells whereas the reissue has a sung version, about half the length. You can find this latter version also on Du temps et de l'instant. I prefer the instrumental version, and that is the only reason I kept the Astrée/Naive release.