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Les Arts Florissants

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Biography

Founded in Caen, France in 1979 by harpsichordist and conductor William Christie, Les Arts Florissants has established itself through recordings and performances as one of the most important baroque music ensembles of its time. Based at the Théâtre de Caen, the ensemble takes its name from the opera composed in 1685 by Marc-Antoine Charpenter and specializes in the interpreting 18th century works on period instruments. Founder William Christie was born December 19, 1944 in Buffalo, New York. He attended Yale University in 1966, where he studied harpsichord under Ralph Kirkpatrick. In 1970, in protest of the Vietnam War, he moved to France. He became known for interpreting baroque music as well as contemporary baroque with the Ensemble Five Centuries. He then formed Les Arts Florissants in ’79. Comprised of instrumental and vocal formations, Les Arts Florissants has, over time, included renowned musicians and singers including Monique Zanetti, Sophie Daneman, Sandrine Piau, Guillemette Laurens, Agnès Mellon, Mark Padmore, Dominique Visse, Jean-Paul Fauchécourt, Véronique Gens, Natalie Dessay, Laurent Naouri, Patricia Petibon, Ian Bostridge or Sophie Karthäuser. Les Arts Florissants has released over a hundred recordings of sacred music or operas, including works by Charpentier, Rameau, Lully, Monteverdi, Purcell, Handel, Mozart, and lesser-known composers such as Luigi Rossi , André Campra, Montéclair, Clérambault, Delalande, Mondonville or Landi. In 2004, the choir received the Liliane Bettencourt Prize for choral singing, awarded in partnership with the Académie des Beaux-Arts. The year 2013 saw the creation of the Les Arts Florissants label, after a long collaboration with the Harmonia Mundi, Virgin Classics and Erato labels. Their large catalog of releases includes Madrigaux des VIIe et VIIIe livres (1981), The Fairy Queen (1989), Orfeo (1991), Petits Motets (1997), Mozart: Great Mass in C minor K. 427 (1999), and their 40th Anniversary release Les Arts Florissants: 40 Ans.
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Albums


Top Tracks

  1.   Track
    Popularity
  2.   In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416: V. Chœur des bergers. "Cœli aperti sunt"
  3.   In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416: IV. Réveil des bergers
  4.   In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416: III. Nuit
  5.   Charpentier : In nativitatem Domini canticum H416 : II "Memorare testamenti"
  6.   In nativitatem Domini canticum, H. 416: I. Prélude. "Usquequo avertis faciem tuam"
  7.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Song. "No Part of My Dominion"
  8.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Song. "Great Love, I Know Thee Now"
  9.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Song. "Thou Doting Fool"
  10.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Chaconne
  11.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Chorus. "Our Natives not Alone Appear"
  12.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Prelude While Cold Genius Rises - Song. "What Power Art Thou"
  13.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Song. "Saint George"
  14.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 3: Song. "What Ho! Thou Genius of This Isle"
  15.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Trumpet Tune. Warlike Consort
  16.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Duet. "You Say 'tis Love"
  17.   King Arthur : Act 5 "Fairest Isle" [Soprano] by Les Arts Florissants
  18.   Messe de minuit pour noël, H. 9: IX. Agnus Dei
  19.   King Arthur : Act 3 Prelude
  20.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Song and Chorus. "Your Hay It Is Mow'd"
  21.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Trio. "For Folded Flocks, and Fruitful Plains"
  22.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: Chorus. "Come, Shepherds, Lead up a Lively Measure" - Hornpipe
  23.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Song and Chorus. "Round Thy Coast"
  24.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 2: Duet. "Shepherd, Shepherd, Leave Decoying"
  25.   King Arthur, Z. 628, Act 5: Symphony
  26. See All Songs

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