Immerseel

Jos van Immerseel and Claire Chevallier have enjoyed a close collaboration for many years now. Like Jos van Immerseel, Claire Chevallier loves period pianos; like him, she is a researcher and possesses her own collection of keyboard instruments.

George Gershwin composed his Rhapsody in Blue in 1924. In the same year, he launched his collaboration with his brother Ira, which produced countless songs. He never achieved his ambition of studying with Maurice Ravel, but was always enthralled by the symphonic poem and the concerto. His masterpieces, such as An American in Paris and the opera Porgy and Bess, greatly enriched the American musical heritage. Jos van Immerseel has always been fascinated by Gershwin, but it was the appearance of a new edition of the scores that prompted the pianist and conductor to record this extensive homage. Thanks to the very latest research undertaken by the University of Michigan, the Library of Congress and the Gershwin Estate, he and his companions in Anima Eterna have got closer than ever before to the composer’s intentions, making use of the appropriate instruments.

Often described as ‘music for amateurs’, sometimes used (or misused) towards purely commercial ends, Orff’s Carmina Burana was clearly ready for a new approach, a sort of revivifying, thorough rethinking. This has now been done, thanks to Jos van Immerseel and the absolutely exceptional musical team that he assembled.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) - Symphonies & Ouvertures
Anima Eterna / Jos van Immerseel
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 1,67 GB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Zig Zag Territoires # ZZT080402.6 | Country/Year: France 2008
Genre: Classical | Style: Symphony

…As for the orchestral playing, it leaves nothing to be desired; intonation is true and ensemble is razor sharp. Anima Eterna captures the music’s raw energy and succeeds in coupling it with eloquence and warmth, resulting in a wonderful blend of soul and virtuosity. In the end, these are sterling performances, certainly capable of going toe-to-toe with the period-instrument competition and well worth the time and effort to open your wallet.

A leader of the movement for historically informed performances, Jos van Immerseel has been active in performances of Renaissance and Baroque music, but he has concentrated on piano music of the Classical and Romantic eras, performing and recording much of the keyboard repertoire on period instruments. This eight-CD box set from Accent contains van Immerseel's recordings from 1979 to 1986, played on a variety of original pianofortes and modern reproductions, and with period instruments in the works for ensembles.

Hector Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique & Le Carnaval Romain
Anima Eterna - Jos van Immerseel
EAC+LOG+CUE | WV: 252 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info [Repacked]
Label/Cat#: Zig Zag # ZZT100101 | Country/Year: France 2009
Genre: Classical | Style: Romantic

…Elsewhere the whole kit of an old-instrument Fantastique – pungent brass timbres, shrieking clarinets, scary “bells” (the pianos) and death-march timpani – makes its mark. For its combination of unique orchestral size and recording quality, and overall Werktreu-ness, this new performance sits easily alongside, maybe even slightly ahead of, the other authentic contenders.

Jacques Duphly & Joseph Bodin de Boismortier - Harpsichord Works
Jos van Immerseel - Laurence Boulay
EAC+LOG+CUE | WV: 334 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Apex # 2564 60372 2 | Country/Year: Europe 2003
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque

…An appealing and most melodic selection of rare French harpsichord works, expertly performed with a very decent sound. Highly recommendable listening.

In fact, until these new performances by Midori Seiler and Jos van Immerseel, only the spirited, often schmaltzy renderings of K. 205 and K. 301-304 performed by Erich Höbarth and Patrick Cohen (Astrée) have ranked with the finest modern-instrument accounts.