Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

Les Arts Florissants is a renowned French Baroque music ensemble that was founded in 1979 by William Christie, an American-born harpsichordist and conductor. The ensemble is named after a 1685 opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, which translates to "The Flourishing Arts." Les Arts Florissants has become one of the most respected and influential early music ensembles in the world, known for its historically informed performances of Baroque and Classical music. William Christie, who had studied music at Harvard and Yale, moved to France in the 1970s to pursue his passion for early music. He quickly became involved in the Parisian early music scene, performing with various ensembles and teaching at the Paris Conservatory. In 1979, he founded Les Arts Florissants with the goal of exploring the rich repertoire of French Baroque music and bringing it to a wider audience. The ensemble's early years were marked by a series of groundbreaking performances and recordings. In 1980, they made their debut at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence with a production of Charpentier's opera "David et Jonathas," which was hailed as a triumph. The following year, they released their first album, "Charpentier: Leçons de Ténèbres," which received widespread critical acclaim and helped establish the ensemble's reputation as a leading interpreter of French Baroque music. Over the years, Les Arts Florissants has expanded its repertoire to include music from other periods and countries, but their focus on French Baroque music remains a core part of their identity. The ensemble's performances are characterized by their attention to historical detail, with period instruments and authentic performance practices used whenever possible. One of the ensemble's most notable achievements was their 1994 production of Lully's opera "Atys," which was staged at the Opéra-Comique in Paris. The production, which featured elaborate sets and costumes, was a critical and commercial success, and helped to revive interest in Lully's music. It was later released on DVD and remains a landmark in the history of Baroque opera. Les Arts Florissants has also collaborated with many of the world's leading musicians and conductors, including Jordi Savall, Philippe Herreweghe, and John Eliot Gardiner. In 2012, they performed Handel's "Messiah" with the Berlin Philharmonic under the direction of Sir Simon Rattle, which was hailed as a "triumph" by critics. In addition to their performances, Les Arts Florissants has also been recognized for their recordings. They have won numerous awards, including several Grammys, for their albums of French Baroque music. Their 1990 recording of Charpentier's "Te Deum" remains one of their most acclaimed recordings, and has been praised for its "exquisite beauty" and "impeccable musicianship." Today, Les Arts Florissants continues to be led by William Christie, who remains one of the most respected and influential figures in the early music world. The ensemble's current members include some of the finest musicians in the field, including sopranos Emmanuelle de Negri and Lea Desandre, and tenor Reinoud Van Mechelen. Les Arts Florissants has played a major role in the revival of interest in French Baroque music, and their influence can be heard in the performances of countless other early music ensembles around the world.

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