Louis Colin

Gretry's "Richard Coeur De Lion" (1784), a rousing tale about the rescue of the crusader king Richard the Lionheart by his faithful troubadour Blondel, is a minor masterpiece, the greatest French opera comique of the Ancien Regime. Gretry wasn't an eighteenth century composer of the calibre of Mozart, Rameau or his contemporary Gluck, but his music seduced audiences with its charm and tunefulness and in this opera he provided a great deal more. Blondel's stirring aria of loyalty to his king, "O Richard, oh mon roi", was so powerful it was used as an anthem by the royalists in the 1790s and promptly banned by the revolutionary authorities.

One of Steve Reich’s most famous and enduring works, Music for 18 Musicians first caught the attention of percussionist Colin Currie in the 1980s. Over the years that followed, Currie dutifully built his library of Reich scores and recordings, but it was this work in particular that truly captured his imagination, holding him in its epic grasp ever since.

Two rival yet similar works, an illustration of a "Quarrel of the Te Deums", a true war of mottled violin scores, a frivolous echo of Louis XV's final victories. It is also the rediscovery of two of the most talented amongst Rameau's contemporaries, François Colin de Blamont and Esprit Joseph Antoine Blanchard. Daniel Cuiller appropriates this music with the voracity which led him to revive a previous Te Deum, on that occasion by Henri Madin, and which was covered with praise. Add to this the brilliant singers of the Marguerite Louise Choir which is directed by Gaétan Jarry and the virtuoso musicians of Stradivaria, Daniel replied with enthusiasm to this "commission" for the Royal Chapel of Versailles.

Launching Ambronay Editions' 'Jeunes Ensembles' collection, Concert chez la Reine opens a window on the French Enlightenment. Les Ombres, directed by Margaux Blanchard and Sylvain Sartre, contrast masterworks by Couperin le Grand with music from Colin de Blamont, master of the Kings chamber music to Louis XV, realised from manuscripts in the Bibliothèque nationale.

Colin Currie & Steve Reich - Live at Fondation Louis Vuitton (2019) {Colin Currie Records CCR0003}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/48kHz - Official Digital Download (qobuz.com) -> 314 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 155 Mb
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© 2019 Colin Currie Record | CCR0003
Classical / Contemporary Classical / Avant-Garde Music / Percussion

The third release from Colin Currie's label celebrates the percussionist's artistic relationship with American cultural icon, Steve Reich. Programed at the composer's request and performed under his supervision, it captures a group of truly world-class performers at the peak of their powers. On this live recording, Currie conducts and performs with the Colin Currie Group and their long-standing collaborators Synergy Vocals. He is joined on stage by Steve Reich for a performance of Clapping Music. This album is essential for any Reich fan.

The third release from Colin Currie's label celebrates the percussionist's artistic relationship with American cultural icon, Steve Reich. Programed at the composer's request and performed under his supervision, it captures a group of truly world-class performers at the peak of their powers. On this live recording, Currie conducts and performs with the Colin Currie Group and their long-standing collaborators Synergy Vocals. He is joined on stage by Steve Reich for a performance of Clapping Music. This album is essential for any Reich fan.