Program presentation Reservations at the Grand Théâtre d'Angers, two mirrored figures
Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre
Exceptional artist and composer during the reign of Louis XIV
This program honors the vocal and instrumental work of Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, one of the few French women of the Baroque era known to this day as a composer. Very famous during his lifetime, prodigy harpsichordist, admired by Louis XIV, the numerous historical and musicological research carried out in particular by Catherine Cessac, allowed the rebirth of the works of this exceptional woman.
5 musicians and soprano Maïlys de Villoutrey (or Maud Bessard-Morandas)
Artistic direction Héloïse Gaillard
duration 70 minutes, no intermission
Recorders and oboes, violin, purple , harpsichord, archiluth.
A version to 4 musicians exist (sans archilute).
Creation at the Belt, Entraigues on the Sorgue (2021)
Check-in at La Courroie, release of the disc 7 October 2022 (Evidence Classics) – 5 Diapason.
Broadcast locations : Angers CRR Auditorium, Antigua Madrid Music Festival (Spain ), The Celestial Vaults (Reze) UCOA Angers, Château Louise de La Vallière, Baroque Music Festival in Famenne Ardennes (Belgium), Metz Arsenal, Tarentaise Festival, Summer of Character…
Note of intent from Héloïse Gaillard
Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre is one of the rare French women of the Baroque era known to this day as a composer.. Very famous during his lifetime, admired by Louis XIV, she is described by one of her contemporaries, Titon du Tillet, in a laudatory manner: “Miss Jacquet, from his earliest youth, made known talents and dispositions for music and for the art of playing the harpsichord. (…) It can be said that no one of her sex has ever had such great talents as her for composing music. » The numerous historical and musicological research carried out in particular by Catherine Cessac has enabled the rebirth of the works of this exceptional woman.
The chosen cantatas honor two female figures associated as mirrors of each other, embodying courage and virtue in the case of Judith and temerity but also pride in that of Semélé.
This program also honors the instrumental music of this composer.
Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, highly talented harpsichordist and virtuoso musician, naturally attaches great importance to instrumental writing by composing two collections of pieces for harpsichord (1687 and 1707), sonatas for violin and harpsichord (1707) and trio sonatas (1695).
The music of Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre is never demonstrative. It invites the performer to show a certain amount of restraint, with delicacy and modesty, and pushes him or her to seek the most accurate expression of feelings without excess.. Often surprising, always evocative, never superficial, she is part of this current of united tastes dear to François Couperin and shares with us in a very touching way the destiny of these two women.
Heloïse Gaillard