Offering the rare opportunity to play the two historical harpsichords preserved at the Palace of Versailles, this workshop invites participants to discover an exceptional instrumental heritage through the shared perspective of two performers united by a long-standing artistic partnership. Drawing on the possibilities offered by these emblematic instruments of the 17th and 18th centuries, participants will explore the repertoire for two harpsichords, including original works and transcriptions, in the spirit of François Couperin’s Les Goûts-réunis.
This workshop will explore in depth the musical possibilities offered by bringing two harpsichords together, drawing on original repertoire, arrangements and transcriptions. Particular attention will be paid to the choices involved in adapting a work: distribution of the parts, realisation of the bass, balance between registers, interplay between sound layers and opportunities for dialogue between the two performers.Through a range of examples from the French repertoire, participants will explore how a transcription can reveal new musical perspectives without losing the essential characteristics of the original work. The workshop will also focus on the specific aspects of playing as a duo: mutual listening, coordination, shared breathing, dynamic control and the shaping of the musical discourse. The two historical harpsichords in Versailles will thus serve as a true laboratory for interpretation.
Objectives
- Deepen knowledge of the repertoire for two harpsichords and its different sources
- Explore the principles of transcription and adaptation for keyboard
- Refine duo playing: listening, coordination and sound balance
Trainers
Béatrice Martin, harpsichordist
Olivier Beaumont, harpsichordist
Béatrice Martin, harpsichordist
Béatrice Martin began playing the harpsichord at the age of six, before studying with some of the instrument’s leading masters at the Geneva Conservatory of Music and the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMD). In 1998, she became the first woman to win First Prize at the Bruges International Harpsichord Competition. Her playing has been praised for its “beautiful and commanding virtuosity” and “dreamlike touch” (Diapason). She performs at numerous concert seasons and festivals, including the Cité de la Musique, the Juan March Foundation, Amici della Musica di Padova and the Boston Early Music Festival. She also has an extensive career as a continuo player, notably with Les Arts Florissants and Les Folies Françoises. Passionately committed to teaching, she teaches at the Juilliard School in New York, the Geneva University of Music and the Paris Regional Conservatory (CRR).
Olivier Baumont, harpsichordist
Curious, passionate and erudite, Olivier Baumont’s musical talents were recognised early on. His keen communication skills, demonstrated through masterclasses, lectures and radio and television programmes, as well as his delight in performing and sharing his love of the 17th and 18th centuries with other art forms, have also earned him acclaim, making him a multifaceted artist in demand internationally. His discography, which has received numerous awards, comprises more than sixty recordings devoted to composers such as Bach, Couperin, Handel, Purcell, Rameau and Telemann. He is the author of several books on French Baroque music, including La Musique à Versailles (Actes Sud, Centre de musique baroque de Versailles and the Public Establishment of the Palace of Versailles). A harpsichord professor at the Paris CNSMD for over twenty years, Olivier Baumont has trained numerous harpsichordists, many of whom are now among the most active and gifted performers on the music scene.
Training arrangements
- In-person workshop only
- Workshop conducted in French (discussions possible in English)
- Assessment methods: self-assessment and individual feedback from the tutors at the end of the workshop
Programme
Monday 15th March 2027
Salon de Mesdames, Château de Versailles
Workshop sessions from 10am to 6pm
- Introduction to the historic instruments of the Palace of Versailles
- Repertoire reading on Mesdames’ instruments
- Repertoire reading
- Individual musical work with musicological input
- Opportunities for informal discussion and socialising
Participants
8 performers (keyboard players)
Prerequisites
- Practising professionals
- Trainee professionals currently undertaking higher education (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree) or equivalent
Repertoire studied
- Original repertoire or transcriptions for two harpsichords, French Baroque (Couperin, Dandrieu, etc.)
- Prior discussions with the trainers
- A list of works will be provided; participants may also suggest works when registering
Pricing conditions
Rédaction
Fees for the one-day workshop (payment online via a payment link sent upon acceptance of the application):
Individual participation – OPCO-funded fee: €300 including VAT (please contact the Training Department’s administration team to request a quote)
Individual participation fee: €150 including VAT
Individual participation fee for students (up to 26 years old): €90 including VAT
For permanent employees and freelance performers (intermittents du spectacle), CMBV workshops may be funded as part of continuing professional development (Afdas, employers, etc.).
The fee includes:
- Access to the CMBV premises (including instrument tuning, where applicable)
- All teaching costs (trainers, instruments, etc.) for the duration of the workshop
- Active participation in the workshops
- Provision of documents and scores
- Loan of instruments or access to instruments, where applicable
Participants are responsible for:
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation and meals
Registration
Selection based on an application and a recording (video preferred, if possible): two pieces, one of which should be from the repertoire studied during the workshop.
The application must include a CV and a cover letter.
Accessibility
The teaching rooms and facilities are accessible to people with reduced mobility. If you have a disability that requires adjustments to the teaching sessions, please indicate this when registering. This information will be passed on to the CMBV’s disability adviser, who will contact you if necessary.
Registration opens: the 2nd November 2026
Registration deadline: the 15th January 2027
