The Early Music Show - Jean-Marie Leclair
Jean Marie Leclair's story is one of the most mysterious of the French baroque. He began life as a lacemaker before finding a career as a dancer, and eventually as a virtuoso violinist and composer, he became so celebrated that he was known as, "The French Corelli". He quickly came to the attention of the King and his compositions became justifiably popular. Then, in 1758 his story takes a sudden twist. Leclair's marriage broke up and he chose to live in a hovel, in a dangerous area of Paris just east of the city walls. Why, nobody knows. He didn't need to live in such circumstances. One morning, his gardener, suspicious that Leclair's garden gate had been left open, ventured within and discovered the famous Leclair lying murdered in a pool of blood in the vestibule of his house. He had been stabbed three times. The Parisian police under the auspices of the celeberated French Lieutenant General of Police, Antoine de Sartine, held a thorough investigation. So what did happen to Leclair? Had his jealous nephew, Francois, killed him in a fit of pique. Could it have been his impoverished wife, Louise? Did the gardener, Paysant, do it or might it have been a psychopathic stranger? Lucie Skeaping outlines the grisly story with actors taking the parts of the various supsects in the case. The whole programme is illustrated with a selection from some of Leclair's marvellous music. Producer: Chris Wines Playlist: Sonata 6 in B minor: “Le Tombeau†Mvts 1 &2 Les Folies Francoises/Patrick Cohen-Akenine Alpha 083 Tracks: 9-10 Sonata for two violins Op 3/3 Chiara Banchini/John Holloway ERATO 2292 45013-2 Track: 7 “Viens Amour, quitte Cithere†Act 5 Scene 2 “Scylla et Glaucos†Catherien Dubosc (Sicilienne) Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists/ John Eliot Gardiner ERATO ECD 75339 CD 3 Track 26 Concerto in A minor Opus7/5 – mvt 1 Vivace Simon Standage/Colleium Musicum 90 CHANDOS CHAN0551 Track: 4 Sonata in F Opus 4/4 – iv Presto Musica Alta Ripa WDR GL 3428 Track: 17 Sonata in G minor Op 13 No 3 – iii. Aria London Baroque Harmonia Mundi 901646 Track 23 Deuxieme recreation de musique d’une Execution Facile in G minor op 8 – Menuets 1 et 1/Badinage Les Nieces de Rameau PIERRE VERANY PV794011 Track: 12 & 13 Concerto in D Major Op7/2 – mvt 2 Adagio Simon Standage/Colleium Musicum 90 CHANDOS CHAN0551 Track: 2 Sonata 6 in B minor: “Le Tombeau†Mvt: (3) & 4 Les Folies Francoises/Patrick Cohen-Akenine Alpha 083 Tracks: (11) & 12