Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) was a pioneer in the history of music, one of the first to bring sonatas and cantatas into the French repertoire, and the first woman in to compose a performed opera. She explored and pushed further the possibilities of musical composition, as well as writing some of the most beautiful pieces of the Baroque era. She worked under the patronage of the most powerful figures of this Grand Siècle that saw the absolute reign of Louis XIV and the construction of his dreamed Versailles. And yet, there are still many elements of mystery and unknown in this composer's story. Kate Molleson invites you to (re)discover the extraordinary adventures of a gifted musician, with a soupçon of French flair and lots of gorgeous music.
In this fifth episode, we conclude Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's story, as she writes airs for the theatre and musical thanks for a new young king; and is still composing bold new music.
Harpsichord Suite (No. 5) in D minor
from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707)
IX. Rigaudon
X. Rigaudon II
XI. Charconne
s Conover Fitch, harpsichord
Le Sommeil d’Ulysse ["Ulysses' Sleep"] (excerpts)
from Cantates Françaises (1715)
Isabelle Desrochers, soprano
Les Voix Humaines
Christine Payeux, viola da gamba/director
Le Raccomodement Comique de Pierrot et de Nicole ["Pierrot and Nicole's Comical Reconciliation"] (1715)
Isabelle Poulenard, soprano
Michel Verschaeve, baritone
Françoise Bloch, viol
Georges Guillard, harpsichord
Trio Sonata in G minor
from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695)
Ensemble Diderot
Johannes Pramsohler, baroque violin/director
Air à boire La Provençale: 'Entre nous mes chers amis' ["Drinking Song La Provençale: 'Between us, dear friends'"]
from Recueil d'Airs Sérieux et à Boire de Différents Auteurs (1724)
Anne Azéma, soprano
Harpsichord Suite No. 6 in G major
from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707)
III. Sarabande
Elizabeth Farr, harpsichord
Sonata in A minor
from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695)
Sophie de Bardonnèche, violin
Lucile Boulanger, viola da gamba
Justin Taylor, harpsichord
Céphale et Procris ["Cephalus and Procris"]
Prologue (excerpts)
Reinoud van Mechelen, tenor/haute-contre (Céphale)
Lore Binon, soprano (Flore)
Lisandro Abadie, bass-baritone (Pan)
Gwendoline Blondeel, soprano (Nymphe)
Wei Lian Huang, soprano (Nymphe)
Namur Chamber Choir
a nocte temporis
Reinoud van Mechelen, director
Team of the week
Presenter: Kate Molleson
Producer: Julien Rosa
Production Coordinator: Ellie Phillips
Mixing: Jonathan Thomas
Composer of the Week is a BBC Audio Wales production for BBC Radio 3
