French Baroque Music

[TheGSMoeller]

The more I listen to Angela Hewitt's Rameau on the modern grand, the more I fall in love with the sound. So I decided to explore more Rameau on piano, starting with a broadcast concert of Sokolov.

What other pianist should I seek to hear Rameau played on the piano?

You said it, Leo. Hewitt's account is lovely. My only other piano Rameau is by Mordecai Shehori, a little more demonic in tone, but highly enjoyable.

[milk]

I have this set on Brilliant Classics, but it was a bit a disappointment:

[asin]B0037YHOUA[/asin]

I'm quite a fan of Belder; I like a lot his Bach, Scarlatti and Soler, but not this Rameau which, I believe, doesn't have the refinement required by this music.

Currently, I'm waiting for the Rannou set, ordered from Italy and very well recommended on this board by Que. I want to get the solo harpsichord works because regarding the Pièces de clavecin en concerts, I'm quite well served by my favorite version, performed by Rousset, Terakado & Uemura (I also have the single disc by Rannou and her people, but I prefer Rousset et al.). So I will comment when my set arrives from Italy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoqQ_qgrmMQ

I was also disappointed. But it may be because I just don't like the sound of the instrument for these works.

[milk]

She's getting older like all of us. It's a wonderful pair of CDs I think, the more I listen to it them more I like them.

I also quite like them. By the way, the series by Violaine Cochard is also wonderful.

[milk]

I think I've read that portrait of Verlet is just a portrait she likes very much and they've decided to use it for the disc cover, nothing to do with Couperin particularly.

The avatar is I believe Günter Lamprecht as Franz Biberkopf in Fassbinder's TV adaptation of Döblin's Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Well, one of you French speakers can explain it if you watch the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEsBslBWTqE

[Leo K.]

Thanks for the recommends regarding Rameau on the piano! Looking forward to searching those names out.

On Spotify I've found a stunning disk of Rameau played by Celine Frisch on the harpsichord, wow what a sound she has!

[Leon]

Re: Rameau keyboard music -

This is one I enjoy that I don't think has been mentioned as of yet:

[asin]B00000E46C[/asin]

[Mandryka]

Thanks for the recommends regarding Rameau on the piano! Looking forward to searching those names out.

On Spotify I've found a stunning disk of Rameau played by Celine Frisch on the harpsichord, wow what a sound she has!

Yes that's very good, I agree. As is the Rameau from Sempe.

We've discussed Celine Frisch's harpsichord somewhere in this thread. 

As far as complete keyboard collections go, I  only have Rannou,  which some people seem to  like a lot.

[Wakefield]

BTW, regarding Couperin (these days discussed regarding the new recording of Verlet), Noëlle Spieth is an excellent choice.

Although her complete collection is sadly OOP, the MP3 downloads are offered by Amazon for mere $19.98:



Here: http://www.amazon.com/Couperin-L-uvre-pour-clavecin/dp/B002UYG940/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345569732&sr=8-1&keywords=noelle+spieth

[Drasko]

re: rameau keyboard music

On harpsichord my favorite is without much doubt Scott Ross, terribly out of print but plenty can be sampled on youtube (complete first three suites I think)

http://www.youtube.com/v/segCBE0oX9Q

On piano, what is there of Sokolov bootlegs (two suites), and for complete set Marcelle Meyer

http://www.youtube.com/v/pPl4jbfPSc4

[Leo K.]

The complete sets I have are the Ross and Rousset sets, both very good indeed.

I wish I had more Rameau from Leonhardt. He has that certain something in his Rameau that uplifts me like no other.

[Coopmv]

Re: Rameau keyboard music -

This is one I enjoy that I don't think has been mentioned as of yet:

[asin]B00000E46C[/asin]

and I am the proud owner of this twofer ...     

[milk]

re: rameau keyboard music

On harpsichord my favorite is without much doubt Scott Ross, terribly out of print but plenty can be sampled on youtube (complete first three suites I think)

http://www.youtube.com/v/segCBE0oX9Q

On piano, what is there of Sokolov bootlegs (two suites), and for complete set Marcelle Meyer

http://www.youtube.com/v/pPl4jbfPSc4

This is really wonderful! I can't understand why they don't rerelease more of Ross. This is really what I'm looking for. I find it frustrating
because I don't get this same spirit from Yates, Belder or Rannou. The closest for me is Gilbert. I can't explain what it is. Maybe someone else can. Perhaps it's that singing quality?   

[Leo K.]

I also am amazed by Scott Ross's Couperin box, on my, what a set!!!

The singing quality is there in spades

[Leon]

Olivier Baumont has recorded some lesser known (at least to me) French baroque composer's keyboard works:



Several of these sets are on Spotify and I am enjoying this one right now.  He plays a variety of keyboards: harpsichord, fortepiano and organ.  Here's some info from Wikipedia on Claude Balbastre:

Balbastre settled in Paris in 1750 and studied there with Pierre Février, whom he succeeded as organist of the Saint Roch church. Jean-Philippe Rameau helped and protected Balbastre when he settled in the city, so Balbastre was quickly and efficiently introduced to the Parisian musical circles and high society, and made a brilliant career: he played at the Concert Spirituel until 1782[2], became organist of the Notre-Dame cathedral and of the Chapelle Royale, became harpsichordist to the French royal court where he taught queen Marie-Antoinette, and became organist for Louis-Stanislas-Xavier, Count of Provence, who later became Louis XVIII, King of France. Balbastre's fame was so great that the archbishop of Paris had to forbid him to play at Saint Roch during some of the services, because the churches were always crowded when Balbastre played.

He was reportedly a very good friend of Couperin.

[Mandryka]

I also am amazed by Scott Ross's Couperin box, on my, what a set!!!

The singing quality is there in spades

The Couperin set which I listen to with most pleasure is Gilbert's. It's very different from Ross's.

[Leo K.]

The Couperin set which I listen to with most pleasure is Gilbert's. It's very different from Ross's.

Is this Kenneth Gilbert?

[Coopmv]

Is this Kenneth Gilbert?

Probably.  I have the Rameau' s set by Gilbert, though I do not have any Scott Ross' recordings ...

[Mandryka]

Is this Kenneth Gilbert?

Yes, that's the one.

Gilbert is everything you would expect: rather contemplative, rarely playing for excitement. If you want thrills then you may be more happy with someone else. But I think he's deep, and I like that.

I have Gilbert's Rameau too, which I like. I think he was at his best in French music. I prefer his Rameau to Spieth's  , though I would be tempted to hear Spieth's F Couperin if I could find it at a decent quality bitrate in the UK. amazon's is low bitrate, and I've learned to avoid that.

[milk]

I'm not sure what's allowed on this forum but I found a link to a download of the Ross Mpeg files of the first book and Pieces. I suppose anyone can send me a message for the link - if that's not braking any rules.

[Lilas Pastia]

The avatar is I believe Günter Lamprecht as Franz Biberkopf in Fassbinder's TV adaptation of Döblin's Berlin Alexanderplatz.

Sometimes you just scare me...