This has been a great year for lesser-known composers, first and foremost a great recording of Benevelo works by Harvé Niquet, also reviewed in this website. As it happens, Niquet and his Le Concert Spirituel released an almost identical repertoire in an album for the Glossa label a few years back, and the comparison is fascinating.
But first the music. Sébastien de Brossard is not a well known baroque composer, but his long-time obsession with composers of his and older generations saved some great music from oblivion. His Stabat Mater is arranged for 5 voices and continuo, and the sheer force of his writing is striking from the first movement. It was a good call to have some 3 pieces before starting this massive work, but what a fantastic opening it is (Coincidentally, Brossard’s ‘Miserere’ remarkably resembles the other famous ‘Miserere’ by Allegri, upper chamber choir and all). With the Stabat Mater, we are met with the rich, well-blended voices of ‘Les Arts Florissants’, this time led by Paul Agnew rather than their permanent chief, William Christie. The choir has a unique combination of period-styled consideration and individual touches, never sounding cold or too calculated. And they are not shy in vibrato or personal impression either; Listen, for example, to the wonderful duo opening solos of Geoffroy Buffière & Florian Carré in the third and fourth movements.
The alternations between soloists, choir and continuo are masterful, a bit reminiscent of Lully but more stretched, lush in sound quality.
A comparison is almost redundant – this, without a doubt, goes to the top of the list of recommendation for any listener looking for the Stabat Mater. Harvé Niquet, with a male-only choir, is much colder and lacks in emotional purpose, so foreign to his usual expressive intensity as projected joy in his other releases. Another performance from the early 90’s by Les pages et les chantres de la Chapelle & Le Mercure Galant under Olivier Schneebeli is obviously much more period-inspired, but the well intentioned all-boy choir is not a match to the quality of singing which we have here. A more recent survey by La Nuova Musica & David Bates is a bit too forceful to my ears, but it’s a good choice if for the rest of the album, containing some lovely Couperin vocal and solo works.
There’s not a lot known of the other composer included in this album, Pierre Bouteiller, and only a few of his works survived. One has to admit his “Missa pro defunctis” (essentially a requiem mass), is perhaps a tad more primitive in harmonic innovation or intricate voice writing. Nonetheless, it’s a jam of a piece and sits very well together with the impressive Stabat Mater.
Harmonia Mundi has celebrated 60 years of activity this year, and was awarded the Gramophone Award “Record Label Of The Year”. We can only hope they continue to provide us with releases with this high level and dedication of lesser known composers. A marvellous album.
“Masters of motet”
Les Arts Florissants, Paul Agnew
Harmonia Mundi, CD HAF8905300
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