12 Guitar Ensemble

This set almost does what it says on the tin. A more accurate title would be ’12 Guitar, Two Double Bass and Occasional Percussion Ensemble’ – but while the massed instruments may stir thoughts of classical works played by ukulele orchestras, this is an exceptionally long way from that.

The dozen guitarists of the Forestare Ensemble have long been performing together, and it shows in this wonderfully energetic and detailed recording of works by Bach, Vivaldi, and Jean-Baptiste Lully, fully revealing the immersion of the players in the Baroque styles here – impressive, since to date their repertoire has been more modern.

Of course, the exemplary recording to DXD, by the 2xHD team of producer André Perry and recording and mastering engineering René Laflamme, plays its part, too, not only in capturing all the intricacies of the scoring and playing, but also the sheer brio of the performances and the lively Montréal church acoustic in which the performances took place.

That’s in no small measure due to the recording technique: faced with 15 musicians, the team eschewed a multiple- microphone approach, instead going for just three Schoeps mikes in a pure Decca Tree configuration of left, right and center.

It all makes for a delightfully lucid, unforced sound, inviting the listener to make the decision whether to focus closer into the generous soundstage or just let the music pour forth. Either approach is equally rewarding.

An innovation that’s truly out of the ordinary, appealing to all Baroque and guitar enthusiasts.

The best guitar ensemble of the moment.