This is a compendium of festive rarities in the ‘Grand Siècle’ of the French organ: their authors have almost been forgotten, secular and the sacred...

This is a compendium of festive rarities in the ‘Grand Siècle’ of the French organ: their authors have almost been forgotten, secular and the sacred mix with dance rhythms, and half of these works have been written more for a concert than the Service! These precious scores have been waiting like guilty pleasures buried in the secret drawers of our lives, hidden behind the French organ grand masters’ sumptuously bound volumes… Lucile Dollat breathes life into Piroye’s L’Allegresse, L’Immortelle and La Béatitude, the brilliant D’Agincour Suites and Balbastre’s sparkling Concerto again, with the contribution of percussionist Michael Metzler, who is more inventive than ever in Raison’s Le Vive le Roy des Parisiens (Long live the King of Parisians)! The Great Organ in the Royal Chapel of Versailles gives a majestic voice to these collector’s gems, unearthed with great enthusiasm by a young organist with determined play.

Review

This is the seventh disc on the Château de Versailles Spectacles label, devoted to organ music performed at the organ of the Chapelle Royale in Versailles, which dates from 1711. It is pretty much the ideal instrument, both for the liturgical and the more secular works. Lucile Dollat is a young organist who has won several prizes and is giving concerts across Europe. I had not heard her before, and I am impressed by her style of playing.

--MusicWeb International (Johan van Veen)