an incredible box of 10 delicious discs by one of the top of the top music ensembles in the last 20 years. No, in some respects, especially in the German barock up to Bach, they are THE authoritative and supreme masters.
Of course, one can complain why they didn't include their first (and beautiful) discs by Heinrich Albert and J. H. Schein, and other discs as well, but i suppose that the answer is that Harmonia Mundi decided to limit their editins to 10 discs, and they had to choose.
Nevertheles, this box is a treasure of a most beutiful, lofty and delicate music by some of the great composers of the German barock (Rosenmuller, Schutz, Kuhnau, Pachelbel, Lechner, etc.), all of them from the begining and the middle barock - and here they get a performances they could not dream of.
Yes, i know, i did not mention yet their Monteverdi recordings. Here there are 3 discs which are dedicated to his works: one disc is a selection from his late madrigal books, and 2 discs contains his Vespro della Beata Vergine.
These are a fine and meticulous performances with an inspiring moments, especially in the selection from the madrigals. But in this field, at least to my taste, there are some more convincing groups, e.g., La venexiana, Concerto Italiano, and Ensemble Elyma.
The recording, as usual in HM, is excellent.
Each cd is packed in a cardboard sleeve, with the original cover.
Yes, as you can guess, besides the Contents, there are no notes on each cd,
and it's very frustrating and a shame.
Is it really so expensive nowadays to print those linear notes?
After all, they already exist and they have just to re-print them.
All in all, an unbelievable set of 10 exalted discs in a price of less than 2 discs.
I bought 4 sets - one for myself and 3 for my dearest friends.