Machaut: Ballades, Rondeaux, Virelais, Motets

Le vray remède d'amour
Machaut: Ballades, Rondeaux, Virelais, Motets
Ensemble Gilles Binchois - Dominique Vellard
Harmonic 8825

Now that there is a second volume, I intend to revisit these remarks. For now, what follows are the old remarks. The second volume does not diminish my appreciation for the first. If anything, the two together serve to raise my appreciation of Machaut even higher.

This is a fabulous recording. Even the less-than-desirable poetic readings take on a rightness after sufficient exposure. The weakness here: It should have been 5 CDs! Seriously, what can I say? I'm always disappointed when this program ends, but I value every second of it.

This is some of my favorite music, superlatively performed. Some of the tracks are the best I've ever heard anywhere, for any kind of music. This is clearly the strongest all-around recording on the list.

To medieval secular list.

Todd M. McComb
Updated: 9 December 1999