VA - Diego Ortiz: Recercadas del Trattado de Glosas (2013) [Hi-Res]

"Denis Morier underlines quite judiciously the importance of this recording of the "recarcadas" of Diego Ortiz. He writes: " This is "... another revelation from Savall (as always in those ancient repertories that he explores with such an open mindedness,...); not only does it come from a famous musician and theorician..., but it stems from a buoyant and tumultuous art, full of exacerbated passions and tensions which are continuously revived."

As we read on, he mentions that "Savall provides a broad selection from the various types of ricercadas located by Ortiz (only those based on Gregorian melodies are excluded), thus embellishing his choices with accompaniments of a wide variety, always splendidly performed. We can appreciate the volubility and the rhythmic exuberance which characterizes Ton Koopman's performance - the hapsichordist often engaging in truly virtuoso exchanges with the soloist - as well as the inventiveness and delicacy of the harpist, Andre Lawrence-King. Being so well supported, Jordi Savall can let go all his poetical inspiration, without adornments, but giving to these pieces on the contrary a truly dramatic dimension... ".

Morier concludes his review by branding Savall as "the angel of the viola da gamba who performs... another miracle, giving a new dimension to these didactic pieces and puts them in a new perspective, shedding a new light on the Renaissance period."