The Palladian Ensemble has not shown much interest in French music hitherto, perhaps because it is repertoire which can be hard to fit to its particular instrumental line-up. As ever, though, the infectious brilliance of its music-making in this recording of music from Louis XIV's court is such that you would have to have cold tea running in your veins to fail to be moved by it.
The disc's opening piece, Jean-Fery Rebel's Les caracteres de la danse, although originally for orchestra, comes across as if it could have been written for them. A nine-minute showcasing of a dozen or so of the favourite French dances of the time, each excerpt lasting no more than a few bars, might seem as if it would sound like one of those advertisements on Classic f M which lurch uncomfortably from one 'classical great' to another, but Rebel, an experienced ballet composer, manages things with much greater skill than that, and in their quicksilver responses the Palladians are his ideal interpreters. In particular, the seemingly unshatterable rapport between violinist Rachel Podger and recorder player Pamela Thorby produces lightning unison-playing of delicacy and precision.
If the rest of the disc does not quite live up to this level of excitement (the predominant atmosphere of the music is rather one of politeness), there is nevertheless much to enjoy, including a gentle theorbo solo for William Carter, a chance for gambist Susanne Heinrich to shine in some eloquently heartfelt pieces by Marais, and a thoroughly convincing arrangement for the full ensemble of two harpsichord musettes by Couperin. The disc ends with an extended suite by Marais from his 1692 trios, music whose refinement and poise are matched in every way by those of the performance it receives from this, one of the best chamber ensembles - baroque or otherwise - currently in business.'