Michel Chapuis

Though he lived to be only 31, Nicolas de Grigny is remembered more than any of his contemporaries as epitomizing the French classical organ tradition. Technically and in his creative ideas Grigny demanded much more of his instrument (and his poor team of blowers!) than any of his predecessors, a fact that makes his works stylistically more akin to harpsichord than to organ practice at the time. In 1703, the year of his death, his wife published a first edition of his complete solo organ works, Premier Livre d’orgue (organists at the time typically composed only one or two books, then spent the rest of their lives improvising on them). A copy of this less-than-100-page volume eventually found its way to Germany and impressed a certain J.S. Bach enough that he reproduced it by hand for his own study.

This set gathers the Bach recordings released by Michel Chapuis for the French label Valois (now Naive) between 1966 and 1970. These highly regarded recordings were reissued by Naive in 1999 and soon became unavailable again. Faultless registration, dramatic flair, dazzling technique and pinpoint clarity in counterpoint make these recordings a cornerstone of any Bach and organ discography. The booklet includes a detailed index by BWV numbers and another by alphabetical order of titles.

After her studies at music school, Moscow (1972–1980, diploma in Piano, Summa cum laude), Marina Tchebourkina graduated in 1984 from Academic Music College under the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (4-year cycle), where she recieved her diploma Summa cum laude in Music Theory, with specializations in Piano and in Organ…

The three Leçons de Ténèbres pour le mercredy (Tenebrae for Wednesday) are the only ones by François Couperin to have survived: 'recitations' destined to accompany the Office of the Tenebrae during one of the nights of Holy Week. Couperin is one of the uncontested masters in this exercise fusing vocal virtuosity and deep religious feeling.

To celebrate its 50th Anniversay, harmonia mundi presents 50 masterworks in the development of Western classical music, performed by undisputed masters in their field. This set features over 36 hours of music (all complete works, no excerpts) of music in audiophile-quality sound, elequently packaged in a deluxe boxed set and offered at a very low price. Whether you are an inquisitive novice or a discerning connoisseur, you will be thrilled to experience the sonic triumphs of the world's most innovative independent label.

To celebrate its 50th Anniversay, harmonia mundi presents 50 masterworks in the development of Western classical music, performed by undisputed masters in their field. This set features over 36 hours of music (all complete works, no excerpts) of music in audiophile-quality sound, elequently packaged in a deluxe boxed set and offered at a very low price. Whether you are an inquisitive novice or a discerning connoisseur, you will be thrilled to experience the sonic triumphs of the world's most innovative independent label.

The earliest full organs in Europe were built before the development of a specific repertoire for the instrument. Taken from historic recordings made between 1963 and 1973, this set is now being reissued for third time - proof that the interpretations of Francis Chapelet, Michel Chapuis, René Saorgin and Helmut Winter are still as fresh as ever. Here they breathe new life into instruments of major historical interest from all over Europe, dating from the late 15th century to the 18th. A thrilling musical voyage across periods and repertoires…
Francis Chapelet plays the organs of Palma de Mallorca (Sant Agusti: organ of the monastery by Caimari-Bosch, late 17th century; Sant Geroni: organ by Matheu Bosch, 1746), Trujillo (organ of St Martin’s church, early 18th century) and Covarrubias (organ of the collegiate church by Diego de Orio Tejada, 17th-18th centuries). René Saorgin plays the organs of Malaucène (organ by Charles Boisselin, 1712), Brescia (San Giuseppe: organ by Graziadio Antegnati, 1581) and Bastia (Sainte-Marie: organ by Serassi, 1844). Michel Chapuis plays the organs of Marmoutier (André Silbermann, 1710) and Saint-Maximin (Jean-Esprit Isnard, 1772). Helmut Winter plays the organs of Trebel (Johann Georg Stein senior, 1777) and Altenbruch (Coci-Klapmeyer, 1498-1730).

After her studies at music school, Moscow (1972–1980, diploma in Piano, Summa cum laude), Marina Tchebourkina graduated in 1984 from Academic Music College under the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (4-year cycle), where she recieved her diploma Summa cum laude in Music Theory, with specializations in Piano and in Organ…

After her studies at music school, Moscow (1972–1980, diploma in Piano, Summa cum laude), Marina Tchebourkina graduated in 1984 from Academic Music College under the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (4-year cycle), where she recieved her diploma Summa cum laude in Music Theory, with specializations in Piano and in Organ…