Reproduction of the Vingt-quatre Violons du roi
In 2007 the CMBV, along with musicians, luthiers and organologists, embarked on the ambitious project of rebuilding the iconic Vingt-quatre Violons du roi orchestra, to resuscitate the full richness of 17th and 18th century French music.
Encouraged by violinist and conductor Patrick Cohën-Akenine, music director of the Folies Françoises, the CMBV entered a new phase in the revival of French baroque music by rebuilding the legendary ensemble. They joined forces with luthiers Antoine Laulhère and Giovanna Chittó da Brescia to reproduce these historic instruments, drawing from early archives, treatises and iconographic sources.
The burgeoning renown of the Vingt-quatre Violons du roi spreads
The remarkable inauguration concert given by Les Folies Françoises in the Galerie des Glaces at the Palace of Versailles in the autumn of 2008 (featuring 12 hautes-contre, tailles and quintes de violon) became the highlight of the CMBV’s Grandes Journées Lully festival.
In September 2011, again in the Galerie de Glaces, Les Folies Françoises inaugurated 6 dessus de violon, thus completing the original family of instruments.
The CMBV offers its instruments to professional orchestras and their fame has spread throughout France and abroad. They have been heard at concerts performed by Le Poème Harmonique, Le Parnasse Français, Doulce Mémoire, La Simphonie du Marais, Les Folies Françoises, Cappriccio Stravagante, the Orchestre des Musiques Anciennes et à Venir, and by Les Arts Florissants (in a new production of Lully’s Atys).
The instruments also inspired teaching projects with the Royal College of Music in London, the Early Music Festival in Boston, the Collegium Marianum in Prague and conservatoires in Paris, Orsay, etc.