To mark the 300th anniversary of the death of Michel-Richard de Lalande (1657-1726) in 2026, the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles is joining forces with the CRRs of Versailles and Paris to recreate "L'Amour fléchi par la Constance" (a little opera by Lalande first performed in 1697), and extracts from "Ballet de la Jeunesse" (1686) as part of an exceptional educational project, offering special accompaniment for the solo roles. This programme will be performed in concert on 25 November 2025 in the Auditorium Marcel Landowski at the CRR Paris and on 28 and 29 November 2025 at the Théâtre Montansier in Versailles, under the direction of Fabien Armengaud, artistic and musical director of the Maîtrise du CMBV.
Project
Best known for his motets and Symphonies pour les Soupers du roi, Michel-Richard de Lalande also wrote a number of works for the stage (ballets, pastorales, divertissements and comédies-ballets). Still unpublished to this day (the score will be published on the occasion of the tercentenary in 2026), L'Amour fléchi par la Constance is a veritable little gem which, while in the Lalande tradition, heralds a new era in French opera. Premiered in the same year as Destouches' Issé and Campra's L'Europe galante, on the occasion of the wedding of the Duke of Burgundy, the work bears witness to a revival of orchestral colour, dance and theatricality. Set in a pastoral setting - then very much in vogue at court - a simple plot is woven and unravelled, punctuated by sung and danced entertainments. The work will be completed by a few extracts from the Ballet de la Jeunesse, performed ten years later at Trianon for Louis XIV, a late example of court ballet with entrances as it had been practised for more than half a century.
The feedback project will take the form of a concert sung by heart and staged in space and movement, under the expert guidance of Julia Gros de Gasquet (stage direction), Fabien Armengaud (musical direction) and Benoît Dratwicki (stylistics and declamation). Singers and instrumentalists will also benefit from the advice of tutors from the partner conservatoires and the musicological expertise of Thomas Leconte.
REQUIRED ROLES
For this project, the CMBV is looking for 4 soloists for the following roles:
- Climène « L'Amour fléchi par la constance » (Dessus)
- Philis « L'Amour fléchi par la constance » / Palès « Le Ballet de la Jeunesse » (Dessus)
- Tircis « L'Amour fléchi par la constance » (Countertenor or tenor)
- Daphnis « L'Amour fléchi par la constance » (Basse-taille)
SCHEDULE
The final schedule will be announced at a later date.
- 14-15-16 october, 12-13 november 2025
Rehearsals with harpsichord accompaniment, in-depth work with Fabien Armengaud, Benoît Dratwicki and Julia Gros de Gasquet at the CMBV - 14-15 november 2025
Rehearsals accompanied by the full continuo, in-depth work with Fabien Armengaud, Benoît Dratwicki and Julia Gros de Gasquet at the CMBV - 17-18 november 2025
Rehearsals with harpsichord accompaniment, in-depth work with Fabien Armengaud, Benoît Dratwicki and Julia Gros de Gasquet at the CMBV - 20-21-22 november 2025
TUTTI rehearsals at the CMBV, and special lecture on the opera by Thomas Leconte - Monday 24 november 2025
TUTTI rehearsal and dress rehearsal in the Marcel Landowski Auditorium at the CRR Paris - Tuesday 25 november 2025
Fitting and concert in the Marcel Landowski Auditorium at the CRR Paris - Thursday 27 november 2025
TUTTI rehearsal and dress rehearsal at the Théâtre Montansier in Versailles - Friday 28 november 2025
Connection and concert at the Théâtre Montansier in Versailles - Saturday 29 november 2025
Connection and concert at the Théâtre Montansier in Versailles
You must be available on all dates to take part in this project.
Trainers (CMBV) :
- Julia Gros de Gasquet (Stage director) : staging and movement
- Fabien Armengaud (Artistic and musical director of the choir) : music director
- Benoît Dratwicki (Artistic director) : stylistics and declamation
- Thomas Leconte (Researcher and editorial manager) : musicological advice
RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES
Participation in this project as a soloist is open to all students from partner CRRs, Pôles Supérieurs and CNSMDs enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year. This project is part of their training.
In the event that a soloist is recruited but is not enrolled in a higher education establishment for the 2025-2026 academic year, the possibility of participating in the project will be examined directly with the last establishment attended (extension of enrolment and specific agreement).
- Pre-selection based on application (CV, covering letter, recording of a French Baroque opera aria of the applicant's choice)
- Registration for auditions until Tuesday 13 may 2025
- Auditions for solo singers on Wednesday 4 June 2025 (accompanied by harpsichord). Programme: a French opera aria in 415 Hz of the candidate's choice + an extract from L'Amour fléchi or Le Ballet de la Jeunesse from the role you wish to perform in 415 Hz (one extract per role will be available on this page around the beginning of May).
- This programme will be played at 415 Hz
Financial conditions:
Registration for the audition and participation in the educational project are free of charge. No remuneration or expenses will be paid to participants.