Jordi Savall, Le Concert des Nations - Purcell: The Fairy Queen & The Prophetess (1997) [Reissue 2009]
SACD Rip | SACD ISO | DST64 2.0 & 5.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 63:33 minutes | Basic Scans | 3,02 GB
or DSD64 2.0 Stereo (from SACD-ISO to Tracks.dsf) > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | Basic Scans | 1,39 GB
or FLAC 2.0 (carefully converted & encoded to tracks) 24bit/44,1 kHz | Basic Scans | 610 MB
Features Stereo and Multichannel Surround Sound | Label: Alia Vox Heritage # AVSA 9866
Henry Purcell's "Fairy Queen" and "Dioclesian" (called "The Prophetess" here) were two examples of semi-opera, a genre that flourished in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries before Handel blew up the spot with Italian opera. In this recording, Jordi Savall gives these unique, at times Lully-esque scores his customary imaginative and colorful treatment with his orchestra Le Concert des Nations. The performance standard here is very high, highlighted by rich, dark bass lines, a stellar violin section, and impeccable intonation in the winds and brass. This group's comparatively well known reading of the Handel Water Music is in a similar vein stylistically, so if you're familiar with that and like it, this would be a good choice.
This is an SACD reissue on Alia Vox of a CD originally released in 1997 as Astrée 8717. Fans of Savall know that his conducting reflects similar values to his viola da gamba solos: a nuanced view of phrasing, exceptional attention to the beauty and clarity of textures, and a knowledge of appropriate embellishments. These qualities can be found in some of the outstanding slow movements on this disc, most notably “Love’s a Sweet Passion” from act III of The Fairy Queen . Savall’s version takes 3:06 to play; by comparison, Goodman/Parley of Instruments (Hyperion 67001) gives it to us at 1:34; and Gardiner/English Baroque Soloists (Archiv Produktion 992902) is not much longer. It isn’t that Savall’s Le Concert des Nations plays twice as much content, but that they inflect far more, slowing for embellishments to the theme, pausing at the climax of a phrase, or at its conclusion. It’s anyone’s guess which approach is more authentic, but I find Savall’s phrasing, along with a slightly lower pitch and predominance of darker string instruments, mines the natural melancholy of Purcell’s piece to greater advantage without danger of anachronism.
There’s no lack of bright, energetic delivery elsewhere, though. The Second Musick and the first Retornella of two from The Prophetess deliver this, amidst flurries of trumpets, while the strutting “Dance for the Green men” and crisply genteel “A dance for the Haymakers” do as much in The Fairy Queen . I can’t say that I get much of a surround effect from four speakers on this SACD, but the engineering is excellent, with forward imaging and clean, balanced sound across the spectrum. There’s a lot to be said for several alternatives to Savall: Goodman for completeness, since he includes most of Purcell’s theatrical music on three CDs, and Christie (Harmonia Mundi 901308) for using several fine singers, including Veronique Gens and Jean-Paul Fouchécourt, instead of relying entirely on instrumentalists. But Savall and Le Concert des Nations remain in the top tier of performances for me. If you haven’t heard them before in this music, by all means give them a try.
Tracklist:
01. The Prophetess - First Musick
02. Second Musick
03. Symphony for the Trumpets & Violins
04. Retornella
05. Dance of the Furies: Soft music - Dance
06. The Chair Dance
07. Retornella
08. The Fairy Queen - First Act Suite - First Musick: Prelude
09. First Act Suite - Hornpipe
10. First Act Suite - Second Musick: Air
11. First Act Suite - Rondeau
12. First Act Suite - Overture
13. First Act Suite - First Act Tune: Jig
14. Second Act Suite - A Prelude
15. Second Act Suite - "A Bird's Prelude"
16. Second Act Suite - Echo
17. Second Act Suite - A Fairies Dances
18. Second Act Suite - A Dance for the Followers of Night
19. Second Act Suite - Second Act Tune: Air
20. Third Act Suite - Prelude "Love's a Sweet Passion"
21. Third Act Suite - Overture: Symphony while the Swans come foward
22. Third Act Suite - Dance of the Fairies
23. Third Act Suite - Dance for the Green men
24. Third Act Suite - A dance for the Haymakers
25. Third Act Suite - Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
26. Fourth Act Suite - Symphony: Prelude, Canzona, Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
27. Fourth Act Suite - Entry of Phoebus
28. Fourth Act Suite - Fourth Act Tune: Air
29. Fifth Act Suite - Prelude
30. Fifth Act Suite - Entry Dance
31. Fifth Act Suite - Symphony
32. Fifth Act Suite - Monkey's Dance
33. Fifth Act Suite - Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
34. Fifth Act Suite - "Fifth Act Tune"
Le Concert des Nations, Conducted by Jordi Savall
Recorded in September 1996 at Collégiale romane du Chateau de Cardona, Catalogne.
Remastered in 2009 by Manuel Mohino.
foobar2000 2.1 / Dynamic Range Meter 1.1.1
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Le Concert des Nations direction Jordi Savall / The Fairy Queen & The Prophetess
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -13.06 dB -30.55 dB 2:09 01-The Prophetess - First Musick
DR13 -11.05 dB -29.37 dB 1:59 02-Second Musick
DR12 -12.62 dB -30.48 dB 1:54 03-Symphony for the Trumpets & Violins
DR12 -11.46 dB -30.40 dB 1:26 04-Retornella
DR12 -14.10 dB -31.59 dB 3:38 05-Dance of the Furies: Soft music - Dance
DR13 -13.85 dB -32.17 dB 2:16 06-The Chair Dance
DR12 -12.81 dB -30.86 dB 0:49 07-Retornella
DR12 -13.71 dB -31.48 dB 2:23 08-The Fairy Queen - First Act Suite - First Musick: Prelude
DR13 -14.21 dB -32.20 dB 0:59 09-First Act Suite - Hornpipe
DR13 -14.05 dB -31.99 dB 0:58 10-First Act Suite - Second Musick: Air
DR12 -17.66 dB -33.27 dB 1:30 11-First Act Suite - Rondeau
DR13 -11.19 dB -30.20 dB 2:38 12-First Act Suite - Overture
DR12 -13.40 dB -33.12 dB 1:11 13-First Act Suite - First Act Tune: Jig
DR12 -15.68 dB -32.67 dB 1:09 14-Second Act Suite - A Prelude
DR12 -19.99 dB -34.07 dB 1:37 15-Second Act Suite - "A Bird's Prelude"
DR13 -14.67 dB -32.58 dB 2:26 16-Second Act Suite - Echo
DR12 -19.21 dB -33.89 dB 1:50 17-Second Act Suite - A Fairies Dances
DR12 -17.80 dB -33.60 dB 2:07 18-Second Act Suite - A Dance for the Followers of Night
DR12 -15.49 dB -32.15 dB 1:25 19-Second Act Suite - Second Act Tune: Air
DR13 -17.56 dB -33.52 dB 3:03 20-Third Act Suite - Prelude "Love's a Sweet Passion"
DR12 -14.59 dB -31.10 dB 2:05 21-Third Act Suite - Overture: Symphony while the Swans come foward
DR12 -15.42 dB -32.30 dB 1:05 22-Third Act Suite - Dance of the Fairies
DR13 -11.01 dB -29.86 dB 1:55 23-Third Act Suite - Dance for the Green men
DR13 -15.70 dB -32.66 dB 1:53 24-Third Act Suite - A dance for the Haymakers
DR13 -14.74 dB -31.96 dB 1:09 25-Third Act Suite - Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
DR13 -12.44 dB -31.86 dB 6:08 26-Fourth Act Suite - Symphony: Prelude, Canzona, Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
DR12 -12.30 dB -30.50 dB 1:07 27-Fourth Act Suite - Entry of Phoebus
DR12 -15.85 dB -32.75 dB 1:09 28-Fourth Act Suite - Fourth Act Tune: Air
DR12 -15.58 dB -32.69 dB 1:22 29-Fifth Act Suite - Prelude
DR13 -17.02 dB -32.87 dB 1:44 30-Fifth Act Suite - Entry Dance
DR13 -13.59 dB -31.98 dB 1:53 31-Fifth Act Suite - Symphony
DR13 -15.84 dB -32.86 dB 0:58 32-Fifth Act Suite - Monkey's Dance
DR13 -13.45 dB -31.93 dB 2:28 33-Fifth Act Suite - Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
DR12 -10.96 dB -28.00 dB 1:11 34-Fifth Act Suite - "Fifth Act Tune"
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 34
Official DR value: DR12
Samplerate: 2822400 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 176400 Hz
Channels: 5
Bits per sample: 1
Bitrate: 14112 kbps
Codec: DST64
================================================================================
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Le Concert des Nations direction Jordi Savall / The Fairy Queen & The Prophetess
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR11 -13.29 dB -28.45 dB 2:09 01-The Prophetess - First Musick
DR13 -11.40 dB -27.06 dB 1:59 02-Second Musick
DR13 -13.24 dB -28.32 dB 1:54 03-Symphony for the Trumpets & Violins
DR13 -12.26 dB -28.13 dB 1:26 04-Retornella
DR12 -14.21 dB -29.82 dB 3:38 05-Dance of the Furies: Soft music - Dance
DR13 -14.13 dB -30.55 dB 2:16 06-The Chair Dance
DR13 -12.59 dB -28.69 dB 0:49 07-Retornella
DR13 -14.86 dB -29.63 dB 2:23 08-The Fairy Queen - First Act Suite - First Musick: Prelude
DR13 -14.18 dB -30.64 dB 0:59 09-First Act Suite - Hornpipe
DR13 -13.98 dB -30.27 dB 0:58 10-First Act Suite - Second Musick: Air
DR12 -18.28 dB -32.29 dB 1:30 11-First Act Suite - Rondeau
DR14 -11.09 dB -27.90 dB 2:38 12-First Act Suite - Overture
DR13 -13.28 dB -32.05 dB 1:11 13-First Act Suite - First Act Tune: Jig
DR12 -16.27 dB -31.47 dB 1:09 14-Second Act Suite - A Prelude
DR12 -20.03 dB -33.79 dB 1:37 15-Second Act Suite - "A Bird's Prelude"
DR13 -14.22 dB -31.32 dB 2:26 16-Second Act Suite - Echo
DR12 -19.69 dB -33.42 dB 1:50 17-Second Act Suite - A Fairies Dances
DR13 -18.02 dB -32.96 dB 2:07 18-Second Act Suite - A Dance for the Followers of Night
DR12 -15.27 dB -30.46 dB 1:25 19-Second Act Suite - Second Act Tune: Air
DR13 -17.96 dB -32.78 dB 3:03 20-Third Act Suite - Prelude "Love's a Sweet Passion"
DR12 -14.74 dB -29.13 dB 2:05 21-Third Act Suite - Overture: Symphony while the Swans come foward
DR13 -15.35 dB -30.68 dB 1:05 22-Third Act Suite - Dance of the Fairies
DR14 -11.58 dB -28.18 dB 1:55 23-Third Act Suite - Dance for the Green men
DR13 -15.90 dB -31.35 dB 1:53 24-Third Act Suite - A dance for the Haymakers
DR13 -14.75 dB -30.27 dB 1:09 25-Third Act Suite - Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
DR14 -12.28 dB -30.16 dB 6:08 26-Fourth Act Suite - Symphony: Prelude, Canzona, Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
DR12 -12.33 dB -28.16 dB 1:07 27-Fourth Act Suite - Entry of Phoebus
DR13 -16.16 dB -31.41 dB 1:09 28-Fourth Act Suite - Fourth Act Tune: Air
DR12 -15.51 dB -31.39 dB 1:22 29-Fifth Act Suite - Prelude
DR13 -16.28 dB -31.58 dB 1:44 30-Fifth Act Suite - Entry Dance
DR13 -14.46 dB -30.33 dB 1:53 31-Fifth Act Suite - Symphony
DR13 -15.54 dB -31.58 dB 0:58 32-Fifth Act Suite - Monkey's Dance
DR13 -13.91 dB -30.24 dB 2:28 33-Fifth Act Suite - Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
DR12 -10.95 dB -25.51 dB 1:11 34-Fifth Act Suite - "Fifth Act Tune"
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 34
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 2822400 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 176400 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 1
Bitrate: 5645 kbps
Codec: DST64
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Le Concert des Nations direction Jordi Savall / The Fairy Queen & The Prophetess
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR12 -13.06 dB -30.55 dB 2:09 01-The Prophetess - First Musick
DR13 -11.05 dB -29.37 dB 1:59 02-Second Musick
DR12 -12.62 dB -30.48 dB 1:54 03-Symphony for the Trumpets & Violins
DR12 -11.46 dB -30.40 dB 1:26 04-Retornella
DR12 -14.10 dB -31.59 dB 3:38 05-Dance of the Furies: Soft music - Dance
DR13 -13.85 dB -32.17 dB 2:16 06-The Chair Dance
DR12 -12.81 dB -30.86 dB 0:49 07-Retornella
DR12 -13.71 dB -31.48 dB 2:23 08-The Fairy Queen - First Act Suite - First Musick: Prelude
DR13 -14.21 dB -32.20 dB 0:59 09-First Act Suite - Hornpipe
DR13 -14.05 dB -31.99 dB 0:58 10-First Act Suite - Second Musick: Air
DR12 -17.66 dB -33.27 dB 1:30 11-First Act Suite - Rondeau
DR13 -11.19 dB -30.20 dB 2:38 12-First Act Suite - Overture
DR12 -13.40 dB -33.12 dB 1:11 13-First Act Suite - First Act Tune: Jig
DR12 -15.68 dB -32.67 dB 1:09 14-Second Act Suite - A Prelude
DR12 -19.99 dB -34.07 dB 1:37 15-Second Act Suite - "A Bird's Prelude"
DR13 -14.67 dB -32.58 dB 2:26 16-Second Act Suite - Echo
DR12 -19.21 dB -33.89 dB 1:50 17-Second Act Suite - A Fairies Dances
DR12 -17.80 dB -33.60 dB 2:07 18-Second Act Suite - A Dance for the Followers of Night
DR12 -15.49 dB -32.15 dB 1:25 19-Second Act Suite - Second Act Tune: Air
DR13 -17.56 dB -33.52 dB 3:03 20-Third Act Suite - Prelude "Love's a Sweet Passion"
DR12 -14.59 dB -31.10 dB 2:05 21-Third Act Suite - Overture: Symphony while the Swans come foward
DR12 -15.42 dB -32.30 dB 1:05 22-Third Act Suite - Dance of the Fairies
DR13 -11.01 dB -29.86 dB 1:55 23-Third Act Suite - Dance for the Green men
DR13 -15.70 dB -32.66 dB 1:53 24-Third Act Suite - A dance for the Haymakers
DR13 -14.74 dB -31.96 dB 1:09 25-Third Act Suite - Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
DR13 -12.44 dB -31.86 dB 6:08 26-Fourth Act Suite - Symphony: Prelude, Canzona, Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
DR12 -12.30 dB -30.50 dB 1:07 27-Fourth Act Suite - Entry of Phoebus
DR12 -15.85 dB -32.75 dB 1:09 28-Fourth Act Suite - Fourth Act Tune: Air
DR12 -15.58 dB -32.69 dB 1:22 29-Fifth Act Suite - Prelude
DR13 -17.02 dB -32.87 dB 1:44 30-Fifth Act Suite - Entry Dance
DR13 -13.59 dB -31.98 dB 1:53 31-Fifth Act Suite - Symphony
DR13 -15.84 dB -32.86 dB 0:58 32-Fifth Act Suite - Monkey's Dance
DR13 -13.45 dB -31.93 dB 2:28 33-Fifth Act Suite - Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
DR12 -10.96 dB -28.00 dB 1:11 34-Fifth Act Suite - "Fifth Act Tune"
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 34
Official DR value: DR12
Samplerate: 2822400 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 176400 Hz
Channels: 5
Bits per sample: 1
Bitrate: 14112 kbps
Codec: DST64
================================================================================
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Analyzed: Le Concert des Nations direction Jordi Savall / The Fairy Queen & The Prophetess
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR11 -13.29 dB -28.45 dB 2:09 01-The Prophetess - First Musick
DR13 -11.40 dB -27.06 dB 1:59 02-Second Musick
DR13 -13.24 dB -28.32 dB 1:54 03-Symphony for the Trumpets & Violins
DR13 -12.26 dB -28.13 dB 1:26 04-Retornella
DR12 -14.21 dB -29.82 dB 3:38 05-Dance of the Furies: Soft music - Dance
DR13 -14.13 dB -30.55 dB 2:16 06-The Chair Dance
DR13 -12.59 dB -28.69 dB 0:49 07-Retornella
DR13 -14.86 dB -29.63 dB 2:23 08-The Fairy Queen - First Act Suite - First Musick: Prelude
DR13 -14.18 dB -30.64 dB 0:59 09-First Act Suite - Hornpipe
DR13 -13.98 dB -30.27 dB 0:58 10-First Act Suite - Second Musick: Air
DR12 -18.28 dB -32.29 dB 1:30 11-First Act Suite - Rondeau
DR14 -11.09 dB -27.90 dB 2:38 12-First Act Suite - Overture
DR13 -13.28 dB -32.05 dB 1:11 13-First Act Suite - First Act Tune: Jig
DR12 -16.27 dB -31.47 dB 1:09 14-Second Act Suite - A Prelude
DR12 -20.03 dB -33.79 dB 1:37 15-Second Act Suite - "A Bird's Prelude"
DR13 -14.22 dB -31.32 dB 2:26 16-Second Act Suite - Echo
DR12 -19.69 dB -33.42 dB 1:50 17-Second Act Suite - A Fairies Dances
DR13 -18.02 dB -32.96 dB 2:07 18-Second Act Suite - A Dance for the Followers of Night
DR12 -15.27 dB -30.46 dB 1:25 19-Second Act Suite - Second Act Tune: Air
DR13 -17.96 dB -32.78 dB 3:03 20-Third Act Suite - Prelude "Love's a Sweet Passion"
DR12 -14.74 dB -29.13 dB 2:05 21-Third Act Suite - Overture: Symphony while the Swans come foward
DR13 -15.35 dB -30.68 dB 1:05 22-Third Act Suite - Dance of the Fairies
DR14 -11.58 dB -28.18 dB 1:55 23-Third Act Suite - Dance for the Green men
DR13 -15.90 dB -31.35 dB 1:53 24-Third Act Suite - A dance for the Haymakers
DR13 -14.75 dB -30.27 dB 1:09 25-Third Act Suite - Third Act Tune: Hornpipe
DR14 -12.28 dB -30.16 dB 6:08 26-Fourth Act Suite - Symphony: Prelude, Canzona, Largo, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro
DR12 -12.33 dB -28.16 dB 1:07 27-Fourth Act Suite - Entry of Phoebus
DR13 -16.16 dB -31.41 dB 1:09 28-Fourth Act Suite - Fourth Act Tune: Air
DR12 -15.51 dB -31.39 dB 1:22 29-Fifth Act Suite - Prelude
DR13 -16.28 dB -31.58 dB 1:44 30-Fifth Act Suite - Entry Dance
DR13 -14.46 dB -30.33 dB 1:53 31-Fifth Act Suite - Symphony
DR13 -15.54 dB -31.58 dB 0:58 32-Fifth Act Suite - Monkey's Dance
DR13 -13.91 dB -30.24 dB 2:28 33-Fifth Act Suite - Chaconne: Dance for the Chinese Man and Woman
DR12 -10.95 dB -25.51 dB 1:11 34-Fifth Act Suite - "Fifth Act Tune"
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Number of tracks: 34
Official DR value: DR13
Samplerate: 2822400 Hz / PCM Samplerate: 176400 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 1
Bitrate: 5645 kbps
Codec: DST64
Thanks to AnnabelLee!
Uncompressed SACD ISO size > 2,89 GB
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