debut album The King’s Playlist

*‘It is to be hoped that the audience of the time would have found the musicians as inspired and fresh as Ensemble Molière on this CD’*

BR Klassik, Stefanie Bilmayer-Frank

Ensemble Molière presents a luxuriant and varied selection of French Baroque music to accompany Louis XIV, the Sun King, in his daily life. What better way to wake up than to be serenaded by the Overture from Charpentier’s Les Arts Florissants? The King’s day continues with extracts from Lully’s Phaëton as the sun rises, a little Couperin as the royal household’s day unfolds, a Symphonie pour les soupers du Roy by Delalande to accompany supper, dance music from the Ballet Royal de la Nuit and a suite to accompany the setting sun from Marais’ Trios pour le coucher du Roy. Louis XIV chose to portray himself as the Sun, the manifestation of the god Apollo on earth and the ultimate power which gives life to all things. This album reimagines a day in the life of one of the most magnificent royals of the Baroque era.

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The King’s Playlist

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643–1704)
Les Arts Florissants, H. 487
1. Ouverture

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687)
Phaëton
2. Premier Air et Deuxième Air

François Couperin (1668–1733)
Concerts Royaux, Deuxième Concert en ré majeur
3. Prélude; 4. Allemande fuguée; 5. Air tendre; 6. Air contrefugué; 7. Échos

Michel-Richard Delalande (1657–1726), arr. Satoko Doi-Luck
Symphonies pour les soupers du Roy, Première Suite
8. Prélude; 9. Air grave; 10. Trio; 11. Gigue; 12. Petit air; 13. Passacaille

Anonymous, arr. Satoko Doi-Luck
Ballet Royal de la Nuit
14. Ouverture

Jean de Cambefort (c. 1605–1661)
Ballet Royal de la Nuit
15. Récit de la Nuit: ‘Languissante clarté, cachez-vous dessous l’onde’

Anonymous, arr. Satoko Doi-Luck
Ballet Royal de la Nuit
16. Le Roy représentant le Soleil levant

Marin Marais (1656–1728)
Pièces en trio 'Trios pour le coucher du Roy’, Excerpts from Suite en sol mineur
17. Prélude; 18. Sarabande; 19. Rondeau; 20. Plainte; 21. Menuet

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Radio play (click link for details)

Album presented on France Musique ‘Musique Matin’ (2 May 2024)

CD-Tipp: ‘It is to be hoped that the audience of the time would have found the musicians asinspired and fresh as the Ensemble Molière on this CD.’ BR-Klassik ‘French Affair mit dem Ensemble Molière’ (14 April 2024)

Album of the Week: ‘A playlist for the king, literally, because on their new CD, Ensemble Molièrepresents a fine selection of French Baroque music to accompany Louis XIV, the Sun King, in his daily life.’ NPO Klassiek (21 April 2024)

Disque du jour France Musique ‘En pistes!’(16 April 2024)

Album presented on France Musique ‘Relax’(4 April 2024)

Reviews

https://cdhotlist.com/2024/04/01/april-2024/

https://musicwebinternational.com/2024/04/the-kings-playlist-recital-linn/