This CD brings together a collection of airs accompanied by theorbo, both sacred and secular, by French composer, poet, and singer Benigne de Bacilly, who was active in the second half of the seventeenth century. Bacilly is most remembered for his treatise "L'art de bien chanter" (1668), which laid out his views on text setting, and the correct use of ornamentation for singers. Bacilly's brief airs use the relatively simple harmonic language of the middle Baroque, and their lavishly ornamented melodies reflect the expressive content of the lyrics. On this CD, each air is introduced by a short lute piece (transcribed here for theorbo) by Charles Mouton, a contemporary of Bacilly's. The alternation of highly ornamented airs with the relatively straightforward instrumental solos makes for an attractive recital. Soprano
Claudine Ansermet sings with security and a pure and bright tone. She negotiates the ornaments with facility and brings a fine sense of drama to the heavily emotional lyrics.
Paolo Cherici plays the theorbo accompaniments and solos with grace and rhythmic lilt. The recorded sound is generally good, but the balance favors the theorbo a little too heavily.