Christophe Rousset & Les Talens Lyriques
Biography Christophe Rousset & Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset
Founder of the period instrument ensemble Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset is an inspirational musician and conductor specialising in the baroque and classical repertoire. Particularly inspired by European music of the 17th and 18th centuries, Rousset has rediscovered forgotten operas such as Antigona by Traetta, La Capricciosa Corretta by Martin y Soler, Armida Abbandonata by Jommelli, La Grotta di Trofonio by Salieri and Temistocle by Jean-Chrétien Bach.
His many recordings include the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, d’Anglebert and Forqueray, and his interpretations of works by J. S. Bach (Partitas, Goldberg Variations, Harpsichord Concertos, English Suites, French Suites, Klavierbüchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann) are regarded as references. With his ensemble Les Talens Lyriques, his great successes on disc include Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Mozart’s Mitridate, Overtures by Rameau, Persée, Roland and Bellérophon by Lully. Christophe Rousset has received honorary awards from the French government for his pioneering efforts work in classical music.
Les Talens Lyriques
The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Talens Lyriques was founded in 1991 by Christophe Rousset. By choosing the name, the conductor attested to his passionate interest in an 18th century music repertoire which he has fortunately begun to re-introduce to the public. Rousset, however, has in no way neglected composers of the previous century.
The repertoire ranges from Monteverdi (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) to Handel (Scipione, Riccardo Primo, Rinaldo, Admeto, Giulio Cesare, Serse, Tamerlano, Alcina, Ariodante), Lully (Persée, Roland, Bellérophon), Cimarosa (Il Mercato di Malmantile, Il Matrimonio Segreto), Traetta (Antigona, Ippolito ed Aricia), Jommelli (Armida abbandonata), Martin y Soler (La Capricciosa Corretta) and even Mozart (Mitridate, Re di Ponto).
Les Talens Lyriques has recorded for DECCA (Universal Music), Naïve, Ambroisie, Aparté and Virgin Classics. In 1994, the ensemble has realised the original soundtrack of the film Farinelli il Castrato. In 2001, it won the Classical Music Victory.
Les Talens Lyriques are supported by the Ministry of Culture and Communication and the City of Paris. In addition, the ensemble is grateful for the generous support of the Annenberg Foundation - Gregory et Regina Annenberg Weingarten, the Primonial Group and the Friends of the Cercle des Mécènes. The ensemble is a FEVIS and PROFEDIM member.
