William Christie

This box set assembles the complete Monteverdi recordings that William Christie and Les Arts Florissants made for harmonia mundi over some fifteen years. Together, they constantly refreshed their inspiration at the wellspring of his finest and most famous madrigals, with a memorable incursion into the sacred repertory of the Selva morale.

Poised at the convergence of 18th-century French and Italian schools, Leclair and Senaillé were the French Paganinis of their day. Technically challenging yet full of poetry, rhythmically varied and always dance-like, their sonatas find two fervent advocates in Théotime Langlois de Swarte and William Christie. Transcending generational differences, the “venerated elder statesman of early music” (Opera News) and the youthful violin prodigy join forces to help us rediscover these still unjustly neglected pages.

These ‘petites’ compositions of sacred music for several soloists and a small instrumental ensemble are in a certain sense the pendants to the grands motets of Versailles: Lully's successor excelled in both forms. At the close of the ‘Grand Siècle’, De Lalande asserted himself as one of the truly great figures in French Baroque music.

Pygmalion is, perhaps, Rameau's most consistently alluring ac/c de ballet whose overture, at least, was greatly admired in the composer's lifetime. There have been three earlier commercial recordings of which only the most recent, on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, is currently available. Pygmalion was Rameau's second ac/c de ballet and it contains affecting and vigorous music in the composer's richest vein. The action takes place in Pygmalion's studio. Captivated by the appearance of the statue he has just completed, Pygmalion, legendary King of Cyprus, falls in love with it.

In December the trailblazing American-French conductor and harpsichordist William Christie celebrates his 80th birthday. Leading up to this major milestone will be a series of new releases and reissues celebrating Christie’s life and work. “Conversations” highlights Christie’s work as a mentor to the younger generation, with star player Justin Taylor playing duets of music by the unique compositional voice of Gaspard Le Roux.