As a follow-up to their 2006 disc debut featuring the works of the great French Baroque composer Marin Marais, gambaist Marianne Müller and her Ensemble Spirale released this 2008 disc, Tombeau pour Mr. de Ste. Colombe & autres portraits..., featuring works by contemporaries of Marais as well as three works by Marais himself, including the title track. As before, Müller demonstrates her rich tone, strong technique, and agile dexterity. Her performance of the opening Prelude by Ste. Colombe is forcefully expressive, while her duet with second gambaist Emily Audouin in Concert à deux violes égales is tenderly sensual. And as before, the Ensemble Spirale not only supports her in the ensemble works, but its individual members shine in the smaller works. Claire Antonini's performance of Denis Gautier's Tombeau de Gautier is both technically accomplished and emotionally affecting. It should be noted that the performance of the Tombeau pour Mr. de Ste. Colombe, which gives this disc its title, is the same stoically doleful performance that appeared on Müller and the Ensemble Spirale's previous disc. In both cases, it fits right in: there as the closing work in E minor Suite, here as the epitaph following two works by Ste. Colombe. Once again, Zig-Zag Territoires' sound is clear, close, and extremely atmospheric.
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