Dancing King and Keyboard Queen

Available for 29 days

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 France 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 second episode, we follow young Elisabeth Jacquet as she joins the court in Versailles, and the circle of the most powerful woman in France. She also publishes her first harpsichord pieces. Sonata No. 5 in A minor from Sonates pour le Violon et pour le Clavecin (1707) III. Presto Lina Tur Bonet, baroque violin Patxi Montero, bass viol Kenneth Weiss, harpsichord Sémélé ["Semele"] (excerpts) from Cantates françaises (1715) Marie-Sophie Pollak, soprano Ensemble 392 Harpsichord Suite (No. 3) in A minor from Les Pièces de clavecin; Premier Livre (1687) VII. Chaconne VIII. Gavotte IX. Menuet Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord Sonata No. 2 in D major from Sonates pour le Violon et pour le Clavecin (1707) Florence Malgoire, violin Les Dominos Sonata No. 1 in G minor (transcribed for organ) from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695) V. Adagio VI. Presto II VII. Aria affettuoso VIII. Becarre allegro Vincent Genvrin, organ Céphale et Procris ["Cephalus and Procris"] Act I, Scene 1: "Lieux écartés, paisible solitude" (Procris) Victoire Bunel, mezzo-soprano Ensemble Il Caravaggio Camille Delaforge, harpsichord/director Harpsichord Suite (No. 4) in F major from Les Pièces de clavecin; Premier Livre (1687) I. Tocade II. Allemande III. Courante IV. Seconde courante V. Sarabande VI. Gigue Marie van Rhijn, harpischord Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Julien Rosa A BBC Audio Wales production for BBC Radio 3