Les Talens Lyriques & Christophe Rousset (klavecimbel)

A GENTLE DESTRUCTION

The baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau was a mild revolutionary. His music breaks tradition, with charming elegance. The Pièces de clavecin en concerts from 1741 thus took a decisive step in the direction of the piano trio. Graceful exercises in chamber music, which suit harpsichordist Christophe Rousset and the musicians of Les Talens Lyriques have been written.

The harpsichord is the heart of this music. The other instruments, a violin, a gamba and sometimes a flute, enter into dialogue on an equal footing. This creates a very rich and subtle sound fabric. Sometimes virtuoso and spicy, sometimes sweet and gallant. It is music that immediately appeals.

Yet Rameau builds on his own terms. Les Pièces share a magical elusiveness and remain deliberately somewhat mysterious. The mysterious titles suggest their own story. You think you understand it, but again and again the light breaks into the bright shimmer of the music. You should not deny yourself this pleasure.

Valérie Gabail (soprano), Gilone Gaubert-Jacques (violin), Lucile Boulanger (viola da gamba), Christophe Rousset (harpsichord, general direction)