Organization

Singer

Mezzo-soprano

Blandine de Sansal

Conversation

Caroline Weynants

soprano

Caroline Bardot

Eugénie Lefebvre

Vojtěch Semerád

Tenor

Clément Debieuvre

Etienne Bazola

NN 1

Conductor

Sébastien Daucé

Opéra Royal de Versailles

Les plaisirs de Versailles -  (The Pleasures of Versailles)

Versailles

France

Opéra Royal

Appartements du Roi

Les plaisirs de Versailles Charpentier,M

Public

The Pleasures of Versailles

Approved

Cantata BWV 63 “Christen, Ätzet Diesen Tag”
Magnificat of Nativity BWV 243A

The Magnificat, written to celebrate Mary’s joy after the  Annunciation, and the oldest Christmas Cantata of Bach (Weimar, 1713), overwhelming fresco of a Nativity, foundation of the world. With these masterful works, Johann-Sebastien Bach opens up for us the gates of  what is sacred as well as  to our own relationship with spirituality. These pieces, amongst the most beautiful ever composed, are no doubt the best way possible  to open the Christmas period. Led here by the very young but nonetheless inspired Valentin Tournet who conducts his ensemble La Chapelle Harmonique.

La Chapelle Harmonique, Valentin Tournet conductor
Marie Perbost, Hana Blažíková, Sopranos 
Eva Zaïcik, Alto
Thomas Hobbs, Tenor
Stephan MacLeod, Bass

Recorded live on December 22, 2018 at the Royal Chapel of Versailles.

Booklet in French, English, German
1 CD ∙ Duration 59'13

CD available for sale on our online shop
☛ www.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/boutique

Excerpts from  The Forced Marriage ,  The Sicilian ,  The Pleasures of Versailles ,  The Imaginary Invalid

When Louis XIV was in his prime and Versailles in its infancy, the royal festivals were the principal ornaments of its gardens, and the brilliant entertainments of the Court of France were the admiration of Europe...

These prestigious events welcomed a lot of music, and not only that of Lully: the Molière / Charpentier duo was very present in this period. The Imaginary Invalid was thus represented at Versailles in front of the Grotto of Thetis in 1674 during the Royal Celebrations for the Conquest of Franche-Comté.

The Pleasures of Versailles , entertainment given for the inauguration of the Evenings of Apartments of Versailles in 1682, depicts the pleasant activities which take place during these evenings at the invitation of the King: music, games, conversation... amid buffets and dances.

Sébastien Daucé and his Ensemble Correspondances, fine specialists in 17th century French music, give abundant life and splendid colors to these Plaisirs de Versailles !

English

The Pleasures of Versailles by Charpentier, M., From (2022/2022), Conductor Sébastien Daucé, Opéra Royal, Versailles, France

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Program, About & Synopsis

Videos

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues