Michel Richard Delalande: Grands Motets – Olivier Schneebeli

   in Choir & Organ (Mar, 2019)
Lalande’s 70 grands motets represent the high point of French sacred music during the ancien régime. Three outstanding examples – Venite exultemus Domino, De profundis and Dominus regnavit – are recorded here from live concert performances in the royal chapel at Versailles. Presumably for different performances, Lalande made multiple versions of his motets, although the first versions have been edited for this recording. Despite lively tempi, the performances lack precision in places, and there is scope for more clarity in the choral sound. The ‘blanket’ inégalité does become tiresome in fast movements – more awareness of the Italian influence on Lalande is needed. …