Search - Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre :: Stradella - San Giovanni Battista

Salome from the seventeenth century

J. Sak | usa | 10/27/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The performance and the recording get A+ but the presentation gets a failing grade. There is no documentation to accompany this wonderful music, so be prepared to do your own research."

Go for the first pressing.

Greenlight | Vermont | 07/16/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The first CD pressing (produced back in 1992) has the libretto -- written in Italian, not Latin -- that many people sorely miss in this reissue. Incidentally, if you are more comfortable with French or want to brush up your rusty German, you're in luck -- there are three translations in all.



The first pressing is available through Amazon at the time of this review. This particular recording by Minkowski is worth every penny of your investment, libretto or no libretto. It's no stretch at all to say that Minkowski's revival of Stradella puts this oratorio (quasi un'opera) in the same league as the very best of Rameau -- perhaps the very best of opera, period.



Just to kvetch about this a little longer: It's one thing to say MODERN opera libretti are so commonplace that CDs can be reissued without them. Foolishly, Erato's marketers, obviously cutting corners, would have you believe that libretti of baroque works are dispensable. Not so.

"

The great perform

HSIEH CHENG CHUNG | Taipei, Taiwan | 07/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, the difficulty of language and document on this CD is a little flaw in it, but I think Minkowski and the signer still give me the overall enjoyable satisfacation. The association of Minowski and Stradella is a fresh experience, as I know. However, I am appreciated in his expression to touch my deeply heart, so I still decide give this one a good 5 star."