La mascarade

Description

In this splendid solo album, the Norwegian performer of early music Rolf Lisveland turns to the repertoire of two composers from the court of Louis XIV: Robert de Visée (c. 1655-1732) and Francesco Corbetta (c.1615-1681), of Italian birth. Lisveland plays their masterpieces with remarkable historical awareness and an inventiveness characteristic of the traditions. De Visée wrote about the importance of playing the music that the instruments themselves demand; advice that Lisveland takes to heart, adding improvised introductions to the passacailles of both composers. He makes use here of two contrasting instruments, the small baroque guitar with its crystalline sounds and the theorbo, the dark and raucous king of lutes. In his fascinating liner notes, Lisveland reminds us that instrumental performances in the 17th century were often given in intimate settings, with lutenists frequently playing for a dozen privileged listeners. The physical presence of the instruments and this intimacy are captured and conveyed with integrity by the production of Manfred Eicher in La Mascarade, recorded at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano.