Misteri d'Elx

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
This recording captures a medieval "mystery play" from the Valencian town of Elche.

Tracks:

Homentage Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Homenatge Al Misteri D'Elx
Isabel I De Castilla
Musicall Humors
Entremeses Del Siglo De Oro
Consort Music To The Viols
L'Orchestre De Louis XIII
Villancicos Y Danzas Criollas
Consort Sets In Five & Six Parts
Ostinato
Battaglia & Requiem
Tous Les Matins Du Monde
Pieces De Viole
Pieces De Viole
Bella Terra
Marquise
Ninna Nanna
Les Concerts Royaux
Farnace
La Viola Da Gamba In Concerto
Il Burbero Di Buon Cuore

Customer Reviews:

yet another great Savall sampler.......2005-12-20

Having purchased hundreds of dollars worth of Savall's CD's, I can say I too am a devoted fan of his. This is a great sampler of his more recent work and contains a huge variety of music. The individual pieces sound great and, as usual, the tone quality and spirit of his ensembles are perfect. If you are looking for a nice album of "early music," are interested in checking out Jordi Savall's work, or are already a Savall fan looking for a nice album to relax to, this inexpensive compilation is for you. It also comes with a color catalog of Alia Vox's current offerings.

WOW - my two year old started doing ballet while listening.......2005-06-28

Which is, of course, another story. But she liked the music. My wife insisted I not sell our copy (which I had no intention of doing). I even played it very loud and no one minded!

I am a Jordi Savall fan, so I saw this sampler of his stuff for such a great price and bought it. It has a nice variety - beautiful vocals, mostly nice instrumental pieces, but all very nice. Even the one (?) opera sounding piece was nice (and I don't like opera).

Anyway - for the price how can you go wrong? Read some of Jordi's other reviews and then jump on it! (Just my opinion)

Average customer rating:

Simply a wonderful CD
The longest running show in Europe...
Mysterious and beautiful

Homenatge al Misteri d'Elx - La Vespra

Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Isabel I: Reina de Castilla
Savall: El Cancionero de Medinaceli
El Cant de la Sibil-la, Mallorca & València, 1400-1560
Bella Terra
Villancicos y Danzas Criollas

ASIN: B000207NRG
Release Date: 2004-06-08

Tracks:

Intrada: Himne Processional (s.XV) (Instr.)
Germanes Mies
Verge I Mare De Deu
Ay, Trista Vida Corporal
O Sant Verger Getsemani
O Arbre Sanct, Digne De Honor
O Sant Sepulcre Virtuos
Juizio Fuerte (Instr.)
Gran Desig M'ha Vengut Al Cor
Fanfara (Sobre Una Melodia Del s.XV)
Deu Vos Salve Verge Imperial
Lo Vostre Fill Que Tant Amau
E Mana'm Que Us La Portas
Angel Plaent E Illuminos
Ab Molt Ser, Si Posible Es
Los Apostols Asi Seran
Y Puix, Verge, O Demanau
Fanfara (Sobre Una Melodia Del s.XV)
Saluts, Honor E Salvament
Ay, Fill Joan E Amich Meu
Ay, Fill Joan, Si A Vos Plau
Los Bracos Traygo Cansados I (Instr.)
Ay Trista Vida Corporal
O Verge, Reyna Imperial
O Apostols E Germans Meus
Sens Vos, Senyora Que Farem?
Agnus Dei (Instr.)
Verge Humil Flor De Honor
Los Bracos Traygo Cansados II (Instr.)
O, Poder De L'Alt Imperi
Ab Gran Goig, Sens Improperi
Vexilla Regis (Instr.)
Salve Regina Princesa
O, Deu Valeu! Y Que Es Asso
Los Meus Cars Fills, Puix Sou Venguts
O, Cos Sant Glorificat
Kyrie Eleison (Instr.)
Esposa E Mare De Deu
Car Puix En Vos Reposa
Apostols E Amics De Deu
Himne Processional (s.XV) (Instr.)

Customer Reviews:

Simply a wonderful CD.......2006-05-03

This was a marvelous piece of work. The vocals were excellent and as usual anything Jordi Savall touches shines. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have listened to it three times in the past week and each time something missed is noticed. It is hard to believe this piece dates back to medieval times. It is simply a masterpiece.

The longest running show in Europe..........2004-08-10

Some time in the thirteenth century a soldier named Francesc Canto patrolled the waters off of Elche ('Elx' in Catalan), Spain for maurading pirates. A vision of the Virgin Mary appeared to him, and soon after he found a casket. It contained the music and text for the Misteri D'Elx, recorded on this CD. More than a bit of legend doubtlessly pervades this account, but visitors to Elche can still hear the piece performed every year around mid-August (good luck finding tickets). The Misteri D'Elx miraculously remains Europe's longest running religious show thanks in part to Pope Urban VIII who excepted it from the Council of Trent's ban on theatricality within church walls in 1632. It survived the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire, the Franco years, and it just keeps on going and going year by year to the present day. Young boys still play and sing the female roles, including the Virgin Mary, by tradition (which may raise some eyebrows). UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recognized the piece in 2001 as a piece of the heritage of humanity, likely ensuring it another 800 years or more of performance.

The entire festival takes place on two successive nights. This CD contains music for the first part only, la Vespra, performed on the first day of the Elche festival. The second part, la Festa, follows on the proceeding evening (can we look forward to a companion CD in the future?). Both parts together tell the story of the death, assumption, and coronation of the Virgin Mary. La Vespra ends with the Virgin's death, surrounded by the Apostles (summoned by an angel), who vow to bury her in Jehoshaphat, as she requested.

The music moves along slowly. No toe tappers here. Track twelve turns four lines of text into over six minutes of music. Many of the other tracks follow similar methodical and plodding rhythms. The tone and mood inspire awe, contemplation, and reverence for the depicted story. Don't expect to dance. Expect to contemplate and follow the soaring and swooping melodies gorgeously performed by Montserrat Figueras, Arianna Savall, and others accompanied by the always incredible La Capella Reial de Catalunya. Jordi Savall, in the CD book, says he wanted to break the 'unjust old ban' of females from the performance of this piece, and that 'the expressive power and intense spirituality inherent in the symbolism of these characters, particularly in the Virgin and the Angel, required the presence of the female dimension'. The results don't disappoint. Fans of intensely beautiful singing will appreciate every second of this CD. Montserrat Figueras, as the Virgin Mary, and Arianna Savall, as the Angel, give amazing performances throughout. Repeated listenings evoke more and more.

To fully appreciate this piece, follow along with the words at least once (use the Catala column as reference). This bridges the text and music and brings the entire piece to life. Almost exclusive vocal works, such as this one, typically rely on the text to illuminate the melodies to greater heights. The improvised accompaniment of La Capella de Catalunya adds to the effect.

Lastly, Savall and Company call this an homage or tribute to the Misteri D'Elx. In other words, they may have taken some liberties with the structure and music of the piece as performed in Elche. Knowing this group, however, such liberties will result in nothing more than amazing music and performance.

Mysterious and beautiful.......2004-08-02

The vocal soloists on this disc are amazing. I have followed the recording career of Arianna Savall from the beginning, and I must say that nepotism plays no part; she deserves every solo she has. Singing side by side with her mother, it is hard to choose a favorite. Generally, Savall's voice is prettier and her technique a bit more solid, while Montserrat Figueras specializes more in the emotional aspect of the music. On this disc, they are evenly matched; the mother's voice sounds better than it has in years, and the daughter's performance is so hauntingly emotional that it leaves the listener holding their breath. Comparing the two is nearly impossible. They are unmatched in this repertoire.

Ironically, they are part of the reason I cannot give the album 5 stars; their main solos come at the beginning of the work and leave the listener a feeling a bit disappointed that the rest of the disc doesn't quite live up to them. However, I would still strongly recommend this disc to anyone.

Average customer rating:

El Misteri D'Elx

Manufacturer: Virgin / Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002SR3
Release Date: 1997-04-22

Tracks:

Antonio De Cabezon: Tiento IX
Maria: Ay Trista Vida Corporal!
Anonyme: Tres II
Angel: Deu Vos Salve, Verge Imperial
Maria: Angel Plaent E Illuminos
Angel: Los Apostols, Assi Seran
Antonio De Cabezon: Dic Nobis Maria, Fabordon Glosado X
Sent Joan: Saluts, Honor E Saluament
Maria: Ay Fill Joan! Si A Uos Plau
Sent Joan: Ay Trista Vida Corporal!
Sent Pere: Verge Humil, Flor De Honor
Tres Apostols: O Poder Del Alt Imperi
Los Apostols: Salue Regina Princesa
Sent Pere: O Deu Valeu!
Maria: Los Meus Cars Fills
Los Apostols: Oh Cos Sanct Glorificat
Antonio De Cabezon: Tiento III
Los Angels: Esposa E Mare De Deu

Tracks:

Julius De Modena: Tiento XX
Los Apostols: Par Nos, Germans
Los Apostols: A Vosaltres Venim Pregar
Sent Pere: Preneu Vos, Joan
Sent Joan: De Grat Pendre
Los Apostols: Flor De Virginal Bellesa
Los Apostols: In Exitu Israel De Aegypto
Los Jueus: Aquesta Gran Nouetat
Los Jueus: Oh Deu Adonay
Los Apostols: Promens, Iueus
Los Jueus: Nosaltres Tots Crehem
Los Jueus: Cantem, Senyors
Los Apostols: In Exitu Israel De Aegypto
Los Apostols: Ans Dentrar En Sepultura
Los Apostols: In Exitu Israel
Antonio De Cabezon: Ave Maris Stella I
Los Angels: Lleuantaus, Reyna Excelent
Sent Tomas: O Bes Fort Desauentura
La Coronacio: Vos Siau Ben Arribada
Los Apostols: Gloria
Antonio De Cabezon: Tiento V

Average customer rating:

Misteri d'Elx
Ensemble Gilles Binchois , and Vallard
Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00018ZRZ4
Release Date: 2004-05-11

Album Description

This recording captures a medieval "mystery play" from the Valencian town of Elche.

Average customer rating:

La Festa Misteri d'Elx

Manufacturer: Licanus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007WQHEY
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Average customer rating:

Misteri d'Elx: La Vespra

Manufacturer: Licanus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000ARNE1
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Average customer rating:

La Festa Misteri d'Elx

Manufacturer: Licanus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0007ZEQ80
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Misteri d'Elx: La Vespra - Capella de Ministrers / Carles Magraner

Average customer rating:

Misteri d'Elx: La Vespra - Capella de Ministrers / Carles Magraner
Antonio de Cabezón , Francisco Correa de Arauxo , Juan Ginés Pérez , Palero , Juan Cabanilles , Carles Magraner , Eliza Franzetti , Josep Hernández , Josep Benet , and Capella de Ministrers
Manufacturer: Licanus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000DI4TU
Release Date: 2003-10-28

Music Review: