Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

France

Birth

:

April 12, 1961 in Avignon, France

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Christophe Rousset is a French harpsichordist and conductor who has made a significant contribution to the world of classical music. Born on June 12, 1961, in Avignon, France, Rousset grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a music teacher, and his mother was a pianist. Rousset began playing the piano at the age of six and later switched to the harpsichord. Rousset studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, where he won first prize in harpsichord and basso continuo. He also studied with renowned harpsichordist Kenneth Gilbert and attended masterclasses with Gustav Leonhardt. Rousset's early career was marked by his collaboration with Les Arts Florissants, a Baroque music ensemble founded by William Christie. Rousset served as the ensemble's harpsichordist and assistant conductor from 1983 to 1992. In 1991, Rousset founded his own Baroque music ensemble, Les Talens Lyriques. The ensemble's name is derived from the title of an opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau, one of the most important French composers of the Baroque era. Les Talens Lyriques quickly gained a reputation for its innovative and dynamic performances of Baroque music. Rousset's leadership of the ensemble has been praised for his attention to detail and his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music. Rousset has also established himself as a solo performer and has recorded numerous albums of Baroque music. His recordings of the keyboard works of François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau have been particularly well-received. Rousset's playing is characterized by his sensitivity to the nuances of the music and his ability to convey its emotional depth. Rousset has also conducted orchestras and opera companies around the world. He has worked with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academy of Ancient Music, and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, among others. Rousset has conducted productions of Baroque operas by Handel, Rameau, and Gluck, among others. His conducting has been praised for its energy and vitality, as well as its attention to detail. Rousset has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 1994, he was awarded the Prix de la Révélation Musicale by the French Ministry of Culture. In 2003, he was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. In 2016, he was awarded the Victoire de la Musique Classique for his recording of Rameau's Les Indes Galantes. Some of Rousset's most notable performances include his 1995 recording of Rameau's Les Boréades, which was praised for its energy and emotional depth. His 2004 recording of Handel's opera Giulio Cesare was also well-received, with critics praising his conducting and the performances of the singers. Rousset's 2011 recording of Rameau's opera Les Indes Galantes was also highly acclaimed, with critics praising his ability to bring out the emotional depth of the music. In addition to his work as a performer and conductor, Rousset is also a respected musicologist. He has written extensively on Baroque music and has edited numerous editions of Baroque music scores. His scholarship has been praised for its attention to detail and its ability to shed new light on the music of the Baroque era. In conclusion, Christophe Rousset is a highly respected figure in the world of classical music.

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