Internationally-renowned harpsichordist & conductor Christophe Rousset leads French ensemble Les Talens Lyriques in “The Sound of Music in Versailles,” presenting works by Lambert, de Montéclair, Couperin, and Lully. Featuring the remarkable young French mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré, an intimate chamber ensemble of Les Talens Lyriques musicians will transport you to the heart of Versailles during the reign of Louis XIV.
Join SFEMS for our special, one-night season opener!
Christophe Rousset, direction & harpsichord; Ambroisine Bré, mezzo-soprano; Gilone Gaubert, violin; Benjamin Chénier, violin; Emmanuel Jacques, cello
TUESDAY, NOV 12, 7:30 PM
First Church Berkeley UCC (First Congregational)
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley
About Les Talens Lyriques
Founded and directed by internationally-renowned harpsichordist & conductor Christophe Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques champions a broad repertoire spanning early Baroque to the beginnings of Romanticism while shining a light on the great masterpieces of musical history as well as missing links and little-known works. Based in Paris, Les Talens Lyriques performs all over the world in ensembles of varying sizes, exploring genres spanning opera, secular madrigals, cantatas, airs de cour, symphonies, and the vast corpus of sacred music (masses, motets, oratorios, Leçons de Ténèbres, etc.).
Their rich discography includes more than 100 recordings, exploring genres spanning opera, secular madrigals, cantatas, airs de cour, symphonies, and the vast corpus of sacred music (masses, motets, oratorios, Leçons de Ténèbres, etc.). Their rich discography includes more than 100 recordings.
The Ensemble Les Talens Lyriques receives subsidies from the French Ministry of Culture-Drac Ile-de-France and the City of Paris and generous support from their Circle of Patrons.
The Ensemble wishes to thank its principal Patrons, the Annenberg Foundation / GRoW—Gregory and Regina Annenberg Weingarten, Madame Aline Foriel-Destezet, and Fondation Société Générale C’est vous l’avenir.
The Ensemble is regularly supported by the Centre National de la Musique for their national and international development and their recordings.
Since 2011, Les Talens Lyriques has been an associate artist and resident at the Singer-Polignac Foundation in Paris.
Les Talens Lyriques is a founding member of FEVIS (Federation of Specialised Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles) and of PROFEDIM (Professional Union of Music Producers, Festivals, Ensembles, and Independent Distributors).
The Sound of Music in Versailles
Rousset and Les Talens present “The Sound of Music in Versailles,” joined by French mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré, first-prize winner of the 2017 Paris Opera Competition.
“We start with Lambert, Lully’s father-in-law, then some Montéclair, who in the 18th century was one of the finest exponents of French cantatas, and finally Couperin, who is very dear to my heart, and whose works I have performed almost in their entirety. He’s a composer who’s been with me since the beginning of my career, as he is still with me today.
I’m joined on this tour by the mezzo-soprano Ambroisine Bré, whose diction and technique are perfect for this kind of program in ’Lullist’ French.
We’ve recorded a lot of Lully together. I’m also lucky enough to be accompanied by my faithful principals, Gilone Gaubert on violin and Emmanuel Jacques on cello. Last but not least, Benjamin Chénier also accompanies us.”
—Christophe Rousset
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