Jordi Savall, viol player, conductor, expert in early music performance practice, and founder of the ensembles Hespèrion XXI and La Capella Reial de Catalunya is responsible for what must be one of the most creatively and sumptuously packaged recordings ever produced. This two-SACD set gathers vocal and instrumental music from the era of Cervantes' Don Quixote, some of it directly related to the novel. Savall and Manuel Forcano selected and adapted sections of the novel and interspersed the music and readings, allowing the listener to follow the events of the novel accompanied and surrounded by appropriate music. The set is beautifully packaged in a full-sized book, which includes illuminating essays and the complete texts in Spanish, French, English, German, Italian, and Japanese, as well as a Catalan version of the essays. Each section opens with a full-color reproduction of the frontispiece from the first edition of the novel in that language.
The performances more than justify the elaborate packaging. Each ballad, pavana, romanesca, gallarda, roundelay, chaconne, lament, and requiem comes fully alive. Soprano Montserrat Figueras, the vocalists of La Capella Reial de Catalunya, the instrumental ensemble Hespèrion XXI, and the readers are absolutely convincing in their performances, with far too many magical and dazzling moments to catalog here. Some pieces sound so spontaneous and deeply felt that they seem to be improvised. Most importantly, the readings, songs, choruses, and instrumental pieces in a variety of styles cohere beautifully, creating a fully satisfying and unified musical and dramatic experience for the listener. The sound is exemplary -- intimate yet spacious and absolutely clear.