Reinoud Van Mechelen brings back to life the art of French vocal music with this concert featuring Dumesny, Lully’s prized singer (who allegedly started life as a cook!). In collaboration with the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, he presents the first of a trilogy tracing the history of French hautes-contre singers.

The young Belgian singer Reinoud Van Mechelen is one of the few tenors in the world possessing a genuine French haute-contre vocal range and the right pitch, suppleness and tone colour to express both infinite tenderness and great exuberance. For over a century the haute-contre voice made a fortune for the Opéra de Paris – people flocked from all over Europe to hear its star singers. After Dumesny in the era of Lully (1680-1700) came Jélyotte who took over with Rameau (1730-1750), followed by Legros when Gluck arrived in Paris (1760-1780). The musical repertoire of these composers and their contemporaries is a pure treasure trove, although still essentially unfamiliar to the public. With the CMBV, Reinoud Van Mechelen and his A nocte temporis ensemble have embarked on a journey through the unique story, this recital being the first of a trilogy.