Louis Couperin

[Karl Henning]

Loving this Passacaille in C from John Moraitis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I9av22_TX0&t=909s

Always tasty!

[prémont]

You're not alone in this - Peter Watchorn has called it the most beautiful recording of Louis Couperin ever made!

Another recording from the 70s which I think still holds up, is Alan Curtis (Archiv).

I agree about Curtis and Leonhardt, but I think Skip Sempe's Louis Couperin recording on alpha also should be mentioned in this context.

[Mandryka]

 Well, from the 70s, I rate highly the first volume of Blandine Verlet's, and Colin Tilney's.

[prémont]

Well, from the 70s, I ratte highly the first volume of Blandine Verlet's, and Colin Tilney's.

Concerning Tilney:
He passed two months ago.
Dec. 17. 2024  aged 91.
RIP

https://theviolinchannel.com/english-harpsichordist-colin-tilney-has-died-aged-91/

[Mandryka]

Concerning Tilney:
He passed two months ago.
Dec. 17. 2024  aged 91.
RIP

https://theviolinchannel.com/english-harpsichordist-colin-tilney-has-died-aged-91/

Thanks for letting us know. He's left a fabulous legacy in harpsichord recordings, he had some good instruments too.

[bioluminescentsquid]

I like the recording by Christopher Hogwood. I remember it being described as Apollonian (maybe here?) and I completely agree.
Strangely, I think Apollonian also fits Leonhardt's first recording but I have struggled to fall in love with it. I like his later recording much more, on a far more characterful harpsichord too.

[bioluminescentsquid]

In other Louis Couperin news, a good, introspective Pavane here as well.


https://open.spotify.com/album/5oGO7YOLLaXnpQHRtPp8O0?si=lMnLrWmxQhuWO7Do32m99Q

[Mandryka]

In other Louis Couperin news, a good, introspective Pavane here as well.


https://open.spotify.com/album/5oGO7YOLLaXnpQHRtPp8O0?si=lMnLrWmxQhuWO7Do32m99Q

I don't think I've ever come across Yoshio Watanabe before - he's clearly a significant musician by reputation and discography, I see he taught  Marie Nishyama. Listening now to the Froberger on that CD you cited. 

A strange phenomenon of our times - he has no wikipedia page, and I find that rather unexpected.

@Dry Brett Kavanaugh If you see his Schubert recordings with  John Elwes it could be interesting. There's a Müllerin and a Schwanengesang.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

I don't think I've ever come across Yoshio Watanabe before - he's clearly a significant musician by reputation and discography, I see he taught  Marie Nishyama. Listening now to the Froberger on that CD you cited. 

A strange phenomenon of our times - he has no wikipedia page, and I find that rather unexpected.

@Dry Brett Kavanaugh If you see his Schubert recordings with  John Elwes it could be interesting. There's a Müllerin and a Schwanengesang.

He studied with Leonhardt. I will look for the recording. His personal page is only partly built.


https://ja.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%B8%A1%E9%82%8A%E9%A0%86%E7%94%9F

http://www.cembalo.com/frame_discography.htm

http://www.cembalo.com/

[Mandryka]

Is this just a mistake from James Johnstone's youtube channel? It must be Armand-Louis, surely.

[milk]

Skip Sempe is the GOAT!

[Mandryka]

Jean Rondeau is progressing his complete Louis Couperin project, there are four sold out concerts in Paris in November, a concert in London and no doubt elsewhere.

The tickets are expensive. Even I am reluctant to go, and I'm a terrible spendthrift. Last time I saw Rondeau I was very disappointed -- a short concert, a swizz. Hmmm.

Is he really a good musician. The style's very late "baroque" -- virtuosity, furiousness . . .  That might work OK for Francois le Grand  but for his uncle Louis le Meilleur  . . . . ?

[Skogwald]

Louis Couperin is so good. I come back to him (Leonhardt, Egarr, Sempe) very often!

[Mandryka]

I attended one of his concerts (of harpsichord pieces) of the complete keyboard cycle at the Early Music Festival in Utrecht last September. He is good. His approach is imaginative and virtuosic, focused on the unexpected turns and twists and moment of stillness and introspection.

It's streaming now - I'm listening to some organ music.

Booklet

https://static.qobuz.com/goodies/73/000215437.pdf

[Mandryka]

Rondeau has a big publicity machine. Here's an article from the  Clavecin Society

https://www.clavecin.org/couperin/fr

and Crescendo Magazine

https://www.crescendo-magazine.be/jean-rondeau-erige-un-monument-a-la-gloire-de-louis-couperin-et-de-son-epoque/

You can see him in action on Arte

https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/120061-000-A/jean-rondeau-joue-louis-couperin/

And even see a complete hagiography about him -- 40 minutes

https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/108126-000-A/le-clavecin-selon-jean-rondeau/

[prémont]

Rondeau has a big publicity machine.
And even see a complete hagiography about him -- 40 minutes

https://www.arte.tv/fr/videos/108126-000-A/le-clavecin-selon-jean-rondeau/

Hagiography, hehe. Interesting to see if his complete Louis Couperin release lives up to the expectations.