Jean Baptiste Lully;
Ballet Music for the Sun King
Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
: Chaconne des Scaramouches, Frivelins et Arlequins;
Ballet de Alcidiane et Polexandre:
Prologue et Sixieme Entree;
Ballet de Xerxes; L’Amour Malade
, Quatrieme Entree;
Ballet du Temps:
Air pour l’Este et ses suivants;
Ballet des Plaisirs
.
Mary Enid Haines (soprano); Sharla Nafziger (soprano); Aradia Baroque Ensemble,
directed by Kevin Mallon
[Naxos 8554003]
This exquisite collection of ballet and vocal music written by Jean Baptiste
Lully for the Court of Louis XIV makes a great stress buster. Apart from the
rousing
“air pour les Esclaves and Singes dansants
” from “Xerxes”
and the
sprightly
“air pour le Veillard et sa Famille”
from
“Les Plaisirs.”
the majority of Lully’s music is so soothing that one could easily imagine
oneself relaxing in the serene gardens of Versailles.
Six ravishing ballets survey Lully’s career as the King’s official
Compositeur de la Musique
. The disc begins with a
chaconne
from Lully’s most famous work, “Les Bourgeois Gentilhomme”
written in 1670. Lully’s early years at the French Court are represented
by one selection from
“
Les Temps” (1654). The greater quantity of this collection is devoted to
“Les Plaisirs” (1655), “Alcidiane et Polexandre” (1658),
and Xerxes (1660). The ballet music from “Xerxes” was played at the
Sun King’s nuptial festivities.
The Aradia Baroque Ensemble under the spirited direction of Kevin Mallon
performs with such
elan
that I’m sure Louis XIV himself would have been delighted. Mary Enid
Haines and Sharla Nafziger are enchanting soloists. They are given ample
opportunity to shine in several solo airs. I especially enjoyed the sweet,
crystal clarity of their delicious soprano voices mingling lusciously in the
“Recits Italiens chantes
” from “Alcidiane et Polexandre.”
The lightness and delicacy of the Aradia Baroque Ensemble’s playing and
the singing of the two fine sopranos are complimented by a warm, slightly
reverberant acoustic. Notes, texts and translations are included. This is an
excellent release in all respects and one which I couldn’t recommend more
highly.
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