Speakers 

• Barbara Nestola (CESR - CMBV)
• Benoît Dratwicki (CMBV - CESR)
• Jonathan Williams (St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford)

As part of its three-year partnership with the Maison Française d’Oxford (2026–2028), the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles is organising a two-day conference devoted to the concept of lyrical recitation in French, Italian and English Baroque opera, combining theoretical and practical approaches.

The partnership established in 2026 between the Maison Française d’Oxford and the CMBV lies at the heart of the latter’s ongoing research into historically informed musical and theatrical practices.

One major topic will be at the centre of these discussions: lyrical recitation. Distinct from spoken theatrical declamation, lyrical recitation combines linguistic and dramatic considerations with vocal and musical parameters that make it a unique art form. Both in the past and today, its conception, teaching and performance continue to raise numerous theoretical, pedagogical and artistic questions.

These two study days will provide an opportunity not only to reopen the debate from a scholarly perspective, but also to explore it through practice. They are intended for both researchers and musicians wishing to engage directly with the outcomes of current research.