Leçons de Ténèbres (1989)

"Michel Lambert was one of the most significant and gifted composers of the 17th-century French air de cour. Lambert's Lecons de tenebres date from 1689 and like those of Charpentier require singers of considerable ability to execute the florid ornamentations. Lambert's settings are generally more austere than some later ones (Couperin, for instance). The beginnings of each verse, at least, remain close to the major third of the "tonus lamentationum" and throughout the music keeps stronger faith with Gregorian chant than many later settings. Each of Lambert's Lecons is scored for a single voice with basso continuo and uses verses from the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet. These performances sensibly draw upon as wide a vocal contrast as possible: there is a soprano, a male alto, a contralto and a high tenor. In summary, this particular performance is a mixed success since not all the voices are equally suited to the idiom. The continuo playing is by and large tidy and stylish." (Gramophone, 1989)