Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

The composer Michel Lambert (1610-1696) should not be confused with the contemporary Catalan jazz man of the same name nor any of the other Michael or Michelle Lamberts out there. Indeed, he does not appear in any of my reference books so would, one hopes, be gratified to be receiving the attention of the up and coming baritone Marc Mauillion in this well presented two disc package. If Lambert is remembered at all today it is as the father-in-law of Jean-Baptiste Lully which is helpful for modern listeners seeking a point of comparison. We are entering into the realm of the Sun King, Louis XIV of France, with all its pomp and pageantry and where understatement was not understood. The 'Leçons de Ténèbres' were a sub-genre of French baroque music used in the build up to Good Friday. Many and various composers have set the texts from the Old Testament Book of Lamentations, with the best known being by François Couperin (1668-1733) and, frankly, if you want just one 'Leçons de Ténèbres' in your collection it would be Couperin's that I would recommend. However, if you cannot get enough French baroque or if you appreciate excellence in singing then you should enjoy the 144 minutes on these two discs. Michel Mauillion is a fine singer and while he is billed as a baritone his range reaches into the tenor register. Already on his CV is work with musicians of the calibre of William Christie and Jordi Savall so clearly he is an artist to watch. Also included in this set are instrumental works by Nicolas Holtman (c 1613-1663) played by Myriam Rignol (viola de gamba), Marouan Mankar-Bennis (harpsichord) and Thibault Roussel (theorbo). These pieces are not mere filler but allow the sombre, reflective Lamentations to sink deeper into our consciousness while we move towards the catastrophe of Good Friday with the glory of Easter Sunday still to come.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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