Composer of the Week - Music at Versailles - Episode 5

Donald Macleod is joined by Herve Niquet and Olivier Baumont to explore the music that was performed at the Palace of Versailles before the French Revolution. He visits the mansion which Louis XVI gave to his wife Marie-Antoinette. A keen musician, she had a tiny theatre built there and took great pleasure in performing in stage productions with her inner circle of friends. Francesco Petrini (1744-1819): Rondo (Troisieme Duo pour deux Harpes, Op 31) Mara Galassi, Gabriella Bosio (harps) Glossa C81302, Tr 14 Gretry: L'amitie a epreuve Orchestre de Bretagne Stefan Sanderling (conductor) ASV CD DCA 1095, Tr 12 Gretry: Richard Coeur de Lion (excerpt from Act 1) Michel Trempont (baritone) Orchestre de Chambre de la Radio Television Belge Edgard Doneux EMI Classics 5 75266 2 CD 1 Gluck: Iphigenie en Aulide (excerpt from Act 3) Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano) Orchestra de l'Opera de Lyon John Eliot Gardiner (conductor) Apex 2564615072, Tr 28 Balbastre: Romance Olivier Baumont (harpsichord) BBC recording Duphly: Prelude; La de Drummond Olivier Baumont (harpsichord) BBC recording Gretry: Zemire et Azor (excerpt from Act 3, Scs 1, 2) Mady Mesple (soprano) Roland Bufkens (tenor) Ali Jean-Claude Orliac (tenor) Orchestra de Chambre de la RTB Edgard Doneux (conductor) EMI CMS 7697012 2 , Trs 22, 23, 24 Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges: String Quartet No 6, Op 14 Les Adieux Naive V5062, Tr 17 Gluck: Armide (excerpt from Act 2) Charles Workman (tenor) Valerie Gabail (soprano) Sandrine Rondot (soprano) Myriam Sosson (soprano) Chorus of Musiciens du Louvre Les Musiciens du Louvre Marc Minkowski (conductor) DG Archiv 459 616-2 , CD1, Trs 21, 22, 23.