Program
MUSIC
Marin Marais (1656-1728)
BOOKLET
Saint Jean
Le Concert Spirituel with director Hervé Niquet have joined forces with the CMBV to produce a revival of Marin Marais’ little known masterpiece Ariane et Bacchus, which has been specially published for the occasion.
Known for composing and performing pieces for the viola da gamba, Marin Marais was also a musician at the Opéra de Paris and even served as conductor for several years. He wrote four tragédies lyriques of which one, Ariane et Bacchus, is waiting to be performed again after the presentation of large extracts last year in collaboration with the Paris regional conservatoire. The libretto is filled with richly contrasting characters and situations and the dense dramatic score is colourfully orchestrated. It is undeniably one of the major works from the latter half of the reign of Louis XIV. Edited by Silvana Scarinci and Julien Dubruque for the CMBV, Ariane et Bacchus will be brought to life under the direction of leading specialist Hervé Niquet, as part of the joint residency project with Le Concert Spirituel, the CMBV and the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. The CMBV choir Les Chantres will also be participating in this exciting new venture!
