Search - Louis Couperin, Blandine Verlet :: Pieces De Clavecin I-V

Love/hate this set

marcabru | 10/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second release of the complete Louis Couperin harpsichord works, the first (that I'm aware of) was Davitt Moroney on HM released in conjunction with his new edition of this music (the present release lists each title with an "M" number.) I had never liked Verlets readings of anything until the Louis Marchand Pieces de Clavecin on Astree in '87. That release, and that the instrument used here is the magnificent (though TERRIBLY recorded on Roussettes' new d'Anglebert)"Colmar" Ruckers, gave me the courage to drop my cash on this set. First, the recording is exceptional. The full expressive range and beautiful tone of this superb instrument is captured along with a pleasant sense of the recording space.
As for the performances, I'll try to be brief. The sessions were recorded over the course of many years (that the sound is so consistent is amazing) and those occurring after '87 please me more; less of that Verlet frantic emotionless business. Some of these performances are uniquely beautiful, giving a fresh though not confusing perspective on the music. Technically, her playing is excellent, and never an issue. Now for the nearly intolerable flaw...TUNING!!! Much of this recording is in tune. But there are times when it is SO horribly out of tune as to be UNLISTENABLE! Other times, it's just a bit sour...but enough to ruin the enjoyment of the music.
We have here a set that, when it's good is gorgeous; when it's bad, almost intolerable. If you love French clavecin music buy it anyway. To Blandine Verlet...a beauiful realisation of this music, but make sure that Ruckers is TUNED BEFORE YOU ROLL THE DAMN TAPE!!!"

Comment on music fan

marcabru | 05/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Music Fan should realize that prior to Bach, "meantone" tuning was used on keyboards rather than equal temperament. Meantone tuning made each key sound different because different chromatic notes were more or less in tune depending on the key. Keys with many chromatic notes (compared to C major) could not be played for that reason. (You will not find pieces in Db or B major in other words.) Some people find meantone tuning refreshingly varied, others like Music Fan find it out of tune because they are so used to piano tuning. As for the performances, while Verlet is very good, Leonhardt is a bit better in this repertoire. Verlet is superlative in her recordings of Scarlatti and Froberger, however, and is also very good with Francois Couperin."