This disc might be more aptly titled “Marin Marais’ greatest hits!” Where else except here, for instance, can you find two of Marais’ most famous works–Les Folies d’Espagnes and Sonnerie de Ste. Genevieve du Mont de Paris–let alone chestnuts like the Allemande la Marianne and Le tableau de L’operation de la taille from the composer’s fifth book of “pieces de viole”, all on the same CD? Ralph Meulenbroeks simply explains that he “…just chose the pieces I love to play!” How refreshing! Is it any wonder then that Meulenbroeks’ choices also happen to coincide with the favorites that have endeared most fans to Marais in the first place?
However, one of the risks taken when recording familiar repertoire is that your performances will be subject to comparison with plenty of competition; and in this respect Meulenbroeks and his colleagues, violinist Remy Baudet and harpsichordist Pieter-Jan Belder, fare exceptionally well. The group’s skill and consummate musicianship is second to none, although the performances may not persuade listeners familiar with this music to give up their personal preferences.
For instance, while Meulenbroeks’ brisk, deftly articulated rendering of Les Folies d’Espagnes is quite good, he’s not quite as fine as Pandolfo (on Glossa) or Watillon (on Alpha–type Q7567 in review search). Similarly, the group’s admirably vivacious performance here of the Sonnerie de Ste. Genevieve may not sway fans of, say, Harnoncourt (Harmonia Mundi), Kuijken (Deutsche Harmonia Mundi), or Savall (AliaVox–type Q4828 in review search). Still, these versions are uniformly well done, and at this level of accomplishment it all comes down to questions of individual taste.
The recording itself is audiophile quality, with remarkable presence and life-like instrumental balances. In sum, despite a few quibbles here and there, Meulenbroeks and colleagues deliver consistently rewarding, exceptionally satisfying performances throughout, and if I had to recommend just one CD to a Marais neophyte, this would be it.
