Cast
Ana Vieira Leite Soprano
Adèle Carlier Soprano
Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal
Under the high patronage of Aline Foriel-Destezet
Gaétan Jarry Orgue and Conductor
Presentation
In the mid-seventeenth century, the Leçons de Ténèbres became the subject of increasingly popular musical compositions. Michel Lambert was the first in France to compose a cycle in 1662, soon followed by Charpentier and Lalande. But the most famous - and the first to have been performed and recorded - are those composed by François Couperin, dated 1714.
At the end of the reign of Louis XIV, France was a land of piety, but also of Italianism in music, including religious music. The emotions composed by Couperin for his female singers are so dramatic that they sound like something out of an opera... Vocality and spirituality are artfully combined, testifying to the refinement of fine French singing practised both in the salons and theatres and in places of worship. People flocked to listen to the divine voices singing the Lessons for the days of Holy Week in Parisian convents, the faceless voices of young conventual recluses, voices from heaven... but often opera singers when theatres were closed during the period of penance before Easter! The candles were traditionally extinguished as the Office of Darkness unfolded, to end in the darkness of the night... The three extant lessons by François Couperin were written for Shrove Wednesday and represent one of the peaks of French sacred art of the early eighteenth century.
Gaétan Jarry conducts wonderful singers, Ana Vieira Leite and Adèle Carlier for this concert, which is particularly relevant to Versailles, and which will also be recorded in our collection.
A Les Productions de l'Opéra Royal production
Available in the Château de Versailles Spectacles collection
PROGRAMME
François Couperin (1668 – 1733)
Leçons de Ténèbres pour le Mercredi Saint
Michel Richard Delalande (1657 – 1726)
Cantique Quatrième : Sur le Bonheur des Justes et le Malheur des Réprouvés
François Couperin
Motet pour le Jour de Pâques : Victoria Christo Resugenti !
Royal Chapel
More info
Prices
Catégorie 3
Catégorie 2
Catégorie 1
Prestige
Prestige VIP
PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.
PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats with complimentary glass of champagne and programme.
REDUCED RATE applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).
To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89.
In case of any technical problem, the box office service remain available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).
