Venice to Versailles
Venice and Versailles stand for the two dominant Baroque styles in Europe: Venice for the robust, joyous exuberance and barocco character of the Italian manner, and Versailles for the refinement, delicacy, elegance and douceur of the French.
Greg Dikmans recorders, baroque flute
Lucinda Moon baroque violin
Simon Martyn-Ellis lute, theorbo, baroque guitar
Giovanni Paolo Cima composer
Diego Ortiz composer
Marco Uccellini composer
Jacques Hotteterre composer
François Couperin composer
Giovanni Bassano composer
Robert de Visée composer
Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger composer
The title Venice to Versailles evokes a journey from one place, or state, to another. The works here map an instrumental path through sixteenth-, seventeenth- and eighteenth-century chamber music from Italy and France: variations on vocal models and ground basses, dances, sonatas and suites.
On another level the ‘affections’ or ‘passions’ – rage, melancholy, joy, mystic exaltation – of the attentive listener are meant to be moved.
Greg Dikmans (recorders and baroque flute), Lucinda Moon (baroque violin) and Simon Martyn-Ellis (lute, theorbo and baroque guitar) take that route from Venetian stil moderno sonatas and ground-bass variations to the refined French suite and Couperin’s pastoral musettes.
Reviews
In this excellent release the repertoire hasn't a single weakness, and the pieces are sequenced (almost exactly chronologically) in a most satisfying way. Strong musical judgement informs the choices, and the musical progression takes the listener on a well-guided journey of music from major centers in Europe. The three members of the Australia-based Elysium Ensemble are founder Greg Dikmans (recorder and baroque flute), Lucinda Moon (baroque violin), and Simon Martyn-Ellis (lute, baroque guitar, and theorbo). A sampling of the pleasures here includes touching and delicate violin eloquence in Castello's ‘Sonata Prima', exemplifying the early 17th-Century ideal that the violin—a new instrument at the time—should emulate the voice. Elegant nonchalance and gracefulness abound in the Hotteterre suite for transverse flute, and flute and violin interweave beautifully in the two Francois Couperin musettes that close the program. Very good notes and bios.
What a delight! … their sound is perfection personified, a marvellous soul-searching selection of melodies which reach into the heart. ★★★★★
an interesting package … some beautiful moments
Yet once again, Elysium Ensemble shows their mastery of the French baroque style with its subtlety, elegance and sophistication … a touch of vigour and liveliness to brighten anyone's day.
A nice compilation of Italian and French repertoire … playing at its finest … the obvious pleasure the musicians take in playing this music.
I do not know what to say … I think it's magic.
This is music to warm heart and soul on the bitterest winter night … ranging in mood from solemn to sparkling … performed consummately
worthy in conception, style and learning … subtle pleasures … the playing is stylish, sensitive and intelligently informed … a testament to the sophistication of Australia's knowledge of early music
A pleasant, easy-listening, well recorded and recommended CD
Artist
Elysium Ensemble
The Elysium Ensemble has been acclaimed by critics for its exciting performances, fine musicianship and authoritative interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire on period instruments.
Audio previews
Tracks
- Ricercata Quarta Giovanni Bassano 2:56
- Susanne ung jour Giovanni Bassano 4:11
- Frais et gaillard Giovanni Bassano 3:40
- Toccata No. 3 Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger 2:19
- Sonata Prima à sopran solo Dario Castello 5:09
- Sonata à 3 Giovanni Paolo Cima 3:40
- Recercada Ottava – Recercada Segunda Diego Ortiz 4:04
- Aria sopra la Bergamasca Marco Uccellini 4:24
- [Ouverture] 3:23
- Allemande 1:52
- Rondeau – Les Tourterelles 2:10
- Gigue 1:35
- Prelude 2:05
- Allemande – La Royalle 3:00
- Courante du même 1:45
- Chaconne 1:57
- Allemande – La cascade de St. Cloud 2:42
- Sarabande – La Guimon 2:45
- Courante – L’indiferente 2:28
- Rondeau – Le plaintif 2:36
- Menuet – Le mignon :58
- Gigue – L’Italienne 1:19
- Muséte de Choisi and Muséte de Taverni François Couperin 6:06
Première Suite de pièces a deux dessus Jacques Hotteterre
Suite in A minor Robert de Visée
Troisième Suite Jacques Hotteterre
Performers
- Elysium Ensemble
- Greg Dikmans · recorders, baroque flute · tracks 1, 3, 6–12, 17–23
- Lucinda Moon · baroque violin · tracks 2, 5–12 and 23
- Simon Martyn-Ellis · lute, theorbo, baroque guitar · tracks 2–8, 13–23
Composers
François Couperin
François Couperin (1668–1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist, known as Couperin le Grand. Organist to Louis XIV and to Saint-Gervais in Paris, he remains the supreme French master of the harpsichord.
Dario Castello
Dario Castello’s Sonate concertate in stil moderno mark the shift from canzona to sonata: strict polyphony cuts against dramatic recitative over continuo, with stile concitato repeated notes and parts specified for violin, cornett, sackbut and dulcian.
Giovanni Paolo Cima
Giovanni Paolo Cima’s early seventeenth-century sonatas are among the first independent instrumental works of the Italian Baroque: single-movement, through-composed pieces for violin, cornett and continuo that join thematic integration with room for virtuoso display.
Jacques Hotteterre
Jacques Hotteterre wrote flute suites and pièces for the private apartments of Louis XIV: music of douceur, elegant conversation and classical form at the heart of early eighteenth-century French chamber style.
Diego Ortiz
Diego Ortiz's recercadas are inventive variations on popular ground basses, written for the viola da gamba and still central to early-music programmes. His Trattado de Glosas remains the great sixteenth-century guide to bowed-string ornamentation.
Marco Uccellini
Marco Uccellini wrote idiomatic Baroque sonatas and arias for solo violin and continuo: short contrasting sections that flow into one another, with virtuosic runs, leaps and writing that pushes the instrument into high positions.
Where to listen
Venice to Versailles is available for streaming through Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Venice to Versailles is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MD 3260
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 67 minutes 4 seconds
- Producer
- Elysium Ensemble
Martin Wright - Recording Engineer
- Vaughan McAlley
- Venue
- Move Records Studio
- Thanks to
- Simone Pérèle
- Release date
- 2002
- Musical work
copyright - © 2002 Move Records
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2002 Move Records
- Category
- Early music
- Genres
- Baroque, Early Music
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574326024
Related recordings
The Bedroom of the King (La Chambre du Roi)
Elysium Ensemble bring French chamber music of the early 18th century into the private apartments of Louis XIV: Couperin and Hotteterre in the douceur of Versailles and the Paris salons.