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October 31, 2024

Musical History with Les Talens Lyriques

On November 13, we’ll be hosting a concert with the acclaimed Paris-based music ensemble Les Talens Lyriques. Founded by harpsichordist and conductor Christophe Rousset, the ensemble performs a wide range of musical repertoire from Baroque composers like Monteverdi and Handel, to the Classical era of Mozart and Beethoven.

Appearing with the ensemble as vocal soloist is the remarkable young mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré. Together they will transport us to the court of Versailles during the Baroque era. This period in music encompasses the early stages of opera, ranging from Claudio Monteverdi’s earliest works in the early 1600s to the operas of George Frideric Handel in 1700s. (One of Handel’s operas, Rodelinda, was presented on our stage last season by The English Concert.)

It is this period in musical history that will be brought to life at Zipper Hall, where you’ll get a taste of the music that was performed in the chambers of the wealthy in Versailles between the years 1664 and 1728. This era saw the creation of the French cantata, a sort of mini-opera that flourished in the years 1710 through 1720, recognizable for its poetic and intimate style. Two of the cantatas that will be performed, La Bergère and Le Retour de la Paix, were among the most popular and accomplished works of Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, a contemporary of famed composer and music theorist Jean-Philippe Rameau. The trio sonata La Steinkerque by François Couperin, which completes the program, is a fine example of the accomplished instrumental style of that master.

For anyone curious about musical history, this is a must-see show to experience these rarely performed pieces for the first time. You’ll also be treated to the eclectic sounds of Baroque era instruments such as the harpsichord, baroque guitars and lute. If the modern day is weighing on you too much, then return to 17^th-century Versailles with us by clicking here for tickets.