The titular ‘lion of nobility’ was (probably) King John II of France, making the most expansive work on this album a lament for a historical event: the French defeat at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. Elsewhere, Machaut’s protagonist continues to scrutinize the joys and sorrows of courtly love in obsessive detail.
‘The famous rondeau Ma fin est mon commencement (‘My end is my beginning’) is especially pleasing in this thoughtful, clear performance. The Orlando Consort bear Machaut’s virtuoso writing ligh ...
BBC Music Magazine
‘A confident exploration of Machaut’s gently beautiful and restrained world … the Orlando Consort’s freshness, enthusiasm and colourful precision make it a truly distinguished collection. It’s ha ...
BBC Music Magazine‘A confident exploration of Machaut’s gently beautiful and restrained world … the Orlando Consort’s freshness, enthusiasm and colourful precision make it a truly distinguished collection. It’s ha ...