Michel Baridon

The Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846–893, is a collection of two sets of preludes and fugues in all 24 major and minor keys, composed for solo keyboard by Johann Sebastian Bach. In Bach's time Clavier (keyboard) was a generic name indicating a variety of keyboard instruments, most typically a harpsichord or clavichord – but not excluding an organ either.

Le moins qu'on puisse dire, c'est que cet homme-là ne laisse pas indifférent. Si la France profonde se retrouve parfaitement dans ses prises de position chantées, l'intelligentsia a trouvé en lui le souffre-douleur idéal ! Courageux pour certains, démago pour les autres, nul en tout ça ne met en doute son talent de chanteur. Du reste, les ventes de ses disques et la fréquentation de ses spectacles se passent de commentaires. A vous de juger.

Michel Legrand was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. After showing great promise as a jazz arranger — working notably with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Bill Evans — he turned his hand to the French “chanson” genre and composed for Boris Vian and Henri Salvador, Jacques Brel or Maurice Chevalier. He then became probably the most famous composer of melodies for France’s Nouvelle Vague filmmakers — Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy, Jean-Luc Godard —, but it was only the beginning, for he went on to be one of the most illustrious film composers in the world. This 10CD set contains his works during that first great period, devoted to all the music released under his name. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

Michel Legrand was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. After showing great promise as a jazz arranger — working notably with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Bill Evans — he turned his hand to the French “chanson” genre and composed for Boris Vian and Henri Salvador, Jacques Brel or Maurice Chevalier. He then became probably the most famous composer of melodies for France’s Nouvelle Vague filmmakers — Agnès Varda, Jacques Demy, Jean-Luc Godard —, but it was only the beginning, for he went on to be one of the most illustrious film composers in the world. This 10CD set contains his works during that first great period, devoted to all the music released under his name. Patrick FRÉMEAUX

This CD contains a fascinating collection of soundtracks by the great composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist Michel Legrand from the early stages of his long career. At the age of 84 at this writing, Legrand has written over 200 film and television scores in addition to many memorable songs. He is best known for his often haunting film music and scores, such as those from the nine movies contained here, which present a good sample of his work. Among the many highlights here is Legrand’s first version of the classic song “Watch What Happens”, which he composed as “Roland Rêve” for the 1960 film Lola.

One of the most beautiful recordings of the St. John Passion.
Bach’s sacred music was a constant preoccupation for Michel Corboz, who recorded the main works of the Leipzig Kantor throughout his career: masses (no less than three times for the one in B minor!), cantatas, and of course oratorios including the Passions. The St. John Passion from 1977 with his fellow Lausanne ensembles feature some of the most brilliant soloists such as the inimitable Evangelist of tenor Kurt Equiluz, Felicity Palmer or Philippe Huttenlocher.

Mid-16th-century Paris was a very active and innovative musical center, with profane vocal polyphony as a major focus under the aegis of such figures as Clément Janequin and Claudin de Sermisy.

2018 collection from the French electronic music pioneer. Planet Jarre is a compilation studio album celebrating 50 years in the music business. A total of 41 tracks have been hand-picked, remastered and retouched by Jarre himself. Jean-Michel Jarre is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and new-age genres. His first mainstream success was the 1976 album Oxygène. More albums were to follow, but his 1979 concert served as a blueprint for his future performances around the world. Several of his albums have been released to coincide with large-scale outdoor events, and he is now perhaps as well-known as a performer as he is as a musician.