LEÇONS DE TÉNÈBRES

An itinerary of light and darkness through French Baroque music

The Leçons de Ténèbres by François Couperin, composed in 1714 for the nuns of the Longchamp convent, are one of the most intimate and dramatic jewels of the French Baroque. Intended for the night services of the Paschal Triduum, they traverse the Lamentations of Jeremiah with poignant emotion and subtle lyricism, unfolding long vocalisations and almost improvisational vocal ornaments.

William Christie, on the harpsichord and conducting, presents these lessons along with fragments by Charpentier and Marais, contemporaries of Couperin, which provide contrasts, solemnity and complementary textures, reinforcing the expressive dimension of the programme. The work combines devotion with the theatricality inherent in the ritual: the darkness grows with each lesson, the tensions of the text unfold in music, and the temporal suspension, the kairos, allows the audience to immerse themselves in the emotional experience.

With Christie and Les Arts Florissants, the festival will offer a sonic experience where each melisma and nuance contribute to revealing the subtlety and depth of the Baroque ritual. At the end, the festival will present Christie with the Medal of Honour, in recognition of his career and his exceptional contribution to Baroque music.

A proposal that invites the audience to experience a unique moment, where tradition, excellence and spiritual depth meet in an unmissable event.