Composer: François Couperin
Performer: Stéphanie-Marie Degand, Georges Barthel, Les Talens Lyriques
Conductor: Christophe Rousset
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Aparté
Catalogue: AP196
Release: 2019
Size: 1.17 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Concerts Royaux
Premier Concert
01. I. Prélude. Gravement
02. II. Allemande. Légèrement
03. III. Sarabande. Mesuré
04. IV. Gavotte
05. V. Gigue. Légèrement
06. VI. Menuet en trio
Second Concert
07. I. Prélude. Gracieusement
08. II. Allemande fuguée. Gaiement
09. III. Air tendre
10. IV. Air contrefugué. Vivement
11. V. Échos. Tendrement
Troisième Concert
12. I. Prélude. Lentement
13. II. Allemande. Légèrement
14. III. Courante
15. IV. Sarabande grave
16. V. Gavotte
17. VI. Musette. Naïvement
18. VII. Chaconne légère
Quatrième Concert
19. I. Prélude. Gravement
20. II. Allemande. Légèrement
21. III. Courante française. Galamment
22. IV. Courante à l’italienne. Gaiement
23. V. Sarabande. Très tendrement
24. VI. Rigaudon. Légèrement et marque
25. VI. Forlane en rondeau. Gaiement
Couperin’s four Concerts royaux were published in 1722 as in a supplement to his third anthology of harpsichord pieces. They sound like a twilight tribute to Sun King’s reign. The score doesn’t mention any instrument but we know the musician envisaged them as ensemble pieces for a mixed consort of instruments. And that was how they were performed at the Sunday concerts at Versailles organized by Mme de Maintenon for Louis XIV between 1714 and 1715.
Chamber music concerts were in fashion at the time so the four Suites were to be played by a bass instrument and several dessus, and not only by the solo harpsichord. Christophe Rousset and his soloists recorded with sense and sensibility this concentrate of French elegance and virtuosity!
With Violinist Stéphanie-Marie Degand, Flutist Georges Barthel, Oboist Patrick Beaugiraud and Violist Atsushi Sakaï, the 18th-century-music lover and baroque conductor features a majestic version of these well-named royal Concerts!