This release continues Le Concert Spirituel’s love affair with the sacred music of Marc-Antoine Charpentier, offering spectacular performances of the composer’s Messe à 8 voix et 8 violons et flûtes (H.3) and Te Deum à 8 voix avec flûtes et violons (H.145).

In both works Charpentier achieves a remarkable synthesis of the Italian preference for two equal-sized choirs with the French tradition of setting a large five-part choir against a small (the result of having to accommodate, in special services, both the larger choir of the Chapelle Royale and the smaller choir of the Chambre). Here, we have two large four-part choirs against which is contrasted two smaller four-part choirs comprising one voice per part; these also combine to form a small eight-voice choir to complement the coming-together of the two larger choirs.

The orchestra, too, is divided in half, but likewise combines to accompany the full eight-part choir or breaks down into smaller units to accompany the numerous vocal solos, duets and trios.
Niquet steers his forces through the multiple configurations employed in the Messe with great suppleness; in the Te Deum he plunges into the broad, swelling sections (resulting from a tendency to set the larger eight-part choir against the smaller in the French style) with aplomb, the addition of oboes adding an extra dash of colour to the orchestration.

Soloists, choir and orchestra are exceptional, as is the recorded sound, detailed booklet notes and handsome packaging. I defy anyone to find fault with this superlative release. WILLIAM YEOMAN