Programme
Symphonies pour le Festin royal de Monseigneur le Comte d’Artois (1773)
Series of suites compiled by François Francœur (1698-1787)
Symphonies pour le Festin royal de Monseigneur le Comte d’Artois encapsulates the lavish splendour of the festivities at Versailles and is directed here by Alexis Kossenko with some 80 musicians attending the CMBV’s joint residency project at the Atelier lyrique de Tourcoing.
Alexis Kossenko, musical perfectionist and dedicated conductor, has forged close relations with the CMBV during his residency at the Atelier lyrique de Tourcoing. Their artistic and academic collaboration has already produced original revivals of two of Rameau’s operas, Achante et Céphise and Zoroastre. They were staged and recorded in 2021 and 2022 respectively, respecting period sources for the orchestral formation and positioning. This new residency project will culminate in a recording of Symphonies pour le Festin royal de Monseigneur le Comte d’Artois - four orchestral suites compiled and arranged by François Francœur in 1773 drawn from contemporary works by Rameau, Dauvergne, Bury, Mondonville, Royer, Rebel, Berton and others. This sparkling, intentionally pompous music was performed at the Royal Opera in the Palace of Versailles turned into a banqueting hall for the occasion. The orchestral formation is akin to that of Handel’s Water or Fireworks Music, and Alexis Kossenko is sure to delight audiences, delivering the right spar and energy to these baroque gems.
