Jul la Chabrand

XIV Dark Centuries are one of those bands that I have known of since 2003 or so, however, for whatever reason, I always delayed in checking out their material until this little EP came out and, needless to say, after hearing it, I was kicking myself for not checking out the debut album (… Den Ahnen Zum Grusse …) sooner; Jul is definitely a pristine and perfect starting point for a newcomer to XIV Dark Centuries since, for one, it's rather easy to sit down and listen to it anytime since it's about 17 minutes long (which, umm, could not be said of Equilibrium's 80-minute Sagas beast, for example) and, besides that, it captures everything the band is about.

"Vintage Vivaldi‚ buoyant and irresistible.
Three serenatas by Vivaldi survive (he is known to have composed at least eight)‚ of which La Senna festeggiante is by far the most enjoyable…One of the work’s most interesting features is Vivaldi’s deliberate use in places of elements of French style‚ for instance in the solemn ‘ouvertur’ which opens Part 2 and the courtly minuet of The Golden Age’s second aria‚ thereby adding to the richness of a work which for the most part is vintage Vivaldi at his most buoyant and irresistible. Those who like to mark his vocal writing down as ‘instrumental’ will nod knowingly at the veering melodic lines of The Seine’s ‘L’alta lor gloria immortale’‚ but overall the music flows with pleasing naturalness‚ simple but effective characterisation…Rinaldo Alessandrini directs an exemplary performance‚ paying as much attention to the details of this sycophantic creation as if it really meant something‚ and‚ as he does so often‚ maintaining the music’s energy and interest without drawing undue attention to himself. The three soloists sing with brightness‚ verve and technical agility‚ the orchestra is assured‚ and all are served by a clear and natural recorded sound. A delight all round."

In late February 1653, just after the Fronde rebellion, the most influential spectacle of the early reign of Louis XIV was created at the Louvre: the Ballet Royal de la Nuit. Grandiose, and carefully elaborated at the highest levels of the state, the libretto by Bensérade called upon the finest artists of the time. Banishing the troubles of Night, Louis XIV danced in the Sun King costume that would henceforth be for ever associated with him. An indispensable world premiere recording!

Splendid baroque opera from Innsbruck. It's already a tradition: at the opening of the Innsbruck Festival there's a baroque opera rediscovery. This time it is L'Idalma overo Chi dura la vince ("Idalma, or Whoever perseveres wins) by Bernardo Pasquini.