Le Concert Spirituel is a French ensemble specialising in works of

baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Classical music, Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance music, Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Class ...

, played on

period instruments In the historically informed performance movement, musicians perform classical music using restored or replicated versions of the instruments for which it was originally written. Often performances by such musicians are said to be "on authentic ...

. Founded by Hervé Niquet in 1987, it is named after the 18th-century concert series

Concert Spirituel The Concert Spirituel () was one of the first public concert series in existence. The concerts began in Paris in 1725 and ended in 1790. Later, concerts or series of concerts with the same name occurred in multiple places including Paris, Vienna ...

. The group performs internationally, playing mostly rarely performed sacred music and operas, and making recordings. Its focus is on French music played at the court of

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

History

The ensemble is named after

, the first private concert society in France, founded in the 18th century and dissolved during the French Revolution. The ensemble was founded by Hervé Niquet in 1987, designed to revive the great works of the French repertoire played at the court of

. Le Concert Spirituel collaborates closely with the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, with a focus on French composers such as

Marc-Antoine Charpentier Marc-Antoine Charpentier (; 1643 – 24 February 1704) was a French Baroque composer during the reign of Louis XIV. One of his most famous works is the main theme from the prelude of his ''Te Deum'' ''H.146, Marche en rondeau''. This theme is st ...

Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste Lully ( – 22 March 1687) was a French composer, dancer and instrumentalist of Italian birth, who is considered a master of the French Baroque music style. Best known for his operas, he spent most of his life working in the court o ...

, André Campra and

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (23 December 1689 – 28 October 1755) was a French baroque composer of instrumental music, cantatas, opéra-ballets, and vocal music. Boismortier was one of the first composers to have no patrons: having obtained a ...

. Le Concert Spirituel often plays

sacred music Religious music (also sacred music) is a type of music that is performed or composed for religious use or through religious influence. It may overlap with ritual music, which is music, sacred or not, performed or composed for or as a ritual. Reli ...

, and has also performed operas such as ''Daphnis et Chloé'' by Boismortier, Rameau's '' Pygmalion'', Purcell's ''

King Arthur According to legends, King Arthur (; ; ; ) was a king of Great Britain, Britain. He is a folk hero and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain. In Wales, Welsh sources, Arthur is portrayed as a le ...

'' and '' The Indian Queen'', and Mozart's ''

Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...

''. The ensemble "rediscovered" forgotten operas from the French repertoire, such as '' Callirhoé'' by André Cardinal Destouches, Lully's '' Proserpine'', '' Sémélé'' by Marin Marais (chosen as "Opera Recording of the Year", Echo Klassik 2009), Guétry's '' Andromaque'', Campra's '' Le carnaval de Venise'' and Catel's '' Sémiramis''. At a Proms concert in 2012 at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...

in London, the ensemble played Handel's ''

Water Music The ''Water Music'' (German: ''Wassermusik'') is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three Suite (music), suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to George I of Great Britain, ...

'' and the ''

Music for the Royal Fireworks The ''Music for the Royal Fireworks'' ( HWV 351) is a suite in D major for wind instruments composed by George Frideric Handel in 1749 under contract of George II of Great Britain for the fireworks in London's Green Park on 27 April 1749. The ...

'', with a large formation including 18 oboes, 9 trumpets and 9 trombones, and strings to match. This is an authentic band for the music, which was originally intended to be played in the open air. Le Concert Spirituel is subsidised by the

French Ministry of Culture The Ministry of Culture () is the ministry (government department), ministry of the Government of France in charge of List of museums in France, national museums and the . Its goal is to maintain the French identity through the promotion and pro ...

and the city of Paris. It also receives financial support from the Mécénat Musical Société Générale and the Fondation Bru.

Recordings

Le Concert Spirituel recorded for the Accord, Adda,

Virgin Virginity is a social construct that denotes the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. As it is not an objective term with an operational definition, social definitions of what constitutes virginity, or the lack thereof ...

and

Naxos Naxos (; , ) is a Greek island belonging to the Cyclades island group. It is the largest island in the group. It was an important centre during the Bronze Age Cycladic Culture and in the Ancient Greek Archaic Period. The island is famous as ...

labels until 1999, and then exclusively for Glossa from 2000 to 2015. Since June 2015, Le Concert Spirituel has recorded exclusively for Alpha Classics.

Awards

Le Concert Spirituel received a 2001

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nomination for its recording of ''Sérénades chez Marie Leczinska'' by Boismortier. Its recording of Striggio's ''40 Voice Mass'' was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 2013. Its recording of Grétry's '' Andromaque'' was awarded a "Chock" by ''Classica'', a Diamant by ''Opéra Magazine'', a Découverte by '' Diapason'' and the "Grand Prix du Disque" by the

Académie Charles-Cros An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of tertiary education. The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 386 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the go ...

in 2010. Its recording of ''Sémélé'' was chosen "Opera Recording of the Year" at the Echo Klassik Awards (2009); its recording of Campra's '' Le Carnaval de Venise'' won a " German Record Critics’ Award", a Classica magazine "Chock" and a Diamant from Opéra Magazine (2011); Lully's ''Persée'' also won a German Record Critics' Award (2017).

DVDs

* Boismortier, ''Don quichotte chez la duchesse'', Staging: Gilles and Corinne Benizio, Production: Step by Step Productions, Château de Versailles, Le Concert Spirituel, Director: Louise Narboni (Alpha Classics – 2015) *

Alessandro Striggio Alessandro Striggio (c. 1536/1537 – 29 February 1592) was an Italian composer, instrumentalist and diplomat of the Renaissance. He composed numerous madrigals as well as dramatic music, and by combining the two, became the inventor of madrigal ...

, ''Messe à 40 voix''. Les aventuriers de la messe perdue, GVD 921624, Production: Step by Step Productions, Director: Laurent Portes, Olivier Simonnet. ( Glossa – 2011) * Purcell, ''

'', GVD 921619, Staging: Gilles and Corinne Benizio (alias Shirley and Dino) *Charpentier, ''

Médée ''Médée'' is a dramatic tragedy in five acts written in alexandrine verse by Pierre Corneille Pierre Corneille (; ; 6 June 1606 – 1 October 1684) was a French tragedian. He is generally considered one of the three great 17th-century Fr ...

'' H.491, Staging: Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Médée; François-Nicolas Geslot, Jason; Gaëlle Méchaly, Créuse; Bertrand Chuberre, Oronte; Renaud Delaigue, Créon; Hanna Bayodi, Caroline Mutel, Andres J. Dahlin, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro, Les Chantres du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, Le Concert spirituel à l'Opéra royal du château de Versailles (3 October 2004), conducted by Hervé Niquet, directed by Olivier Simonet – 2 DVD Armide classics 2004.

Discography

Le Concert Spirituel has recorded the following: * ''L'Opéra des opéras'', 2019 Alpha Classics * Orazio Benevolo, ''Missa si deus pro nobis'', 2018 Alpha Classics *

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

, ''

Messiah In Abrahamic religions, a messiah or messias (; , ; , ; ) is a saviour or liberator of a group of people. The concepts of '' mashiach'', messianism, and of a Messianic Age originated in Judaism, and in the Hebrew Bible, in which a ''mashiach ...

'', 2017 Alpha Classics *

, ''Persée 1770'', 2017 Alpha Classics *

Luigi Cherubini Maria Luigi Carlo Zenobio Salvatore Cherubini ( ; ; 8 or 14 SeptemberWillis, in Sadie (Ed.), p. 833 1760 – 15 March 1842) was an Italian Classical and Romantic composer. His most significant compositions are operas and sacred music. Beethov ...

, '' Requiems de Cherubini & Plantade'', 2016 Alpha Classics * Antonio Vivaldi, '' Gloria &

Magnificat The Magnificat (Latin for "y soulmagnifies he Lord) is a canticle, also known as the Song of Mary or Canticle of Mary, and in the Byzantine Rite as the Ode of the Theotokos (). Its Western name derives from the incipit of its Latin text. This ...

'', 2015 Alpha Classics *

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

, ''Les Mystères d'Isis'', 2015 Glossa GCD 921630 * Jean-Philippe Rameau, ''Les Fêtes de l'Hymen et de l'Amour'', 2014, Glossa GES 921629-F * Johann Christoph Vogel, ''La Toison d'or'', 2013, Glossa GES 921628-F *

Louis Le Prince Louis Aimé Augustin Le Prince (28 August 1841 – disappeared 16 September 1890, Presumption of death, declared dead 16 September 1897) was a French artist and the inventor of an early film, motion-picture camera, and director of ''Roundhay Ga ...

, ''Missa Macula non est in te'',

, Motets H.306, H.341, H.245, H.299, H.75, (''Ouverture'' H.536), Lully, ''O dulcissime Domine'', 2013 – Glossa GCD 921627 * Charles-Simon Catel, ''Sémiramis'', 2012, Glossa GES 921625-F *

, ''Messe à 40 voix'', 2012 Glossa GCDSA 921623 * André Campra, ''Le Carnaval de Venise'', 2011 Glossa GES 921622-F * Pierre Bouteiller, ''Requiem'', 2010 Glossa GCD 921621 * André Grétry, ''Andromaque'', 2010, Glossa GES 921620-F * Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Missa Assumpta est Maria ''H.11 ''- Pour plusieurs martyrs ''H.361 ''- Symphonie pour un reposoir ''H.508'', 1, 2, 5, – O salutaris Hostia ''H.262 ''- 2 Domine Salvum Fac Regem ''H.303 & H.291, 2008 - Glossa GCD 921617 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, ''Daphnis & Chloé'', Glossa GCD 921618 * Marin-Marais, ''Sémélé'', (world premiere recording), 2007, Glossa GES 921614-F * ''Grandes eaux musicales 2007 du Château de Versailles'', Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet, 2007 Glossa GCD 921613 * André Cardinal Destouches, ''Callirhoé'', (world premiere), 2006, Glossa GES 921912-f * Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Messe à 8 voix, 8 violons et flûtes'' H.3 – ''Domine Salvum Fac Regem'' H.283 – ''Te Deum à 8 voix, avec flûtes et violons'' H.145, 2006 Glossa GCD 921611 * Henry Desmarest, ''De Profundis, Veni Creator, Cum Invocarem'', 2005 – Glossa GCD 921610 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Sonates pour basses, 2004 – Glossa GCD 921609 *

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...

, ''King Arthur'', 2004 – Glossa GCD 921608 * Henry Desmarest, ''Te deum de Paris – Dominus Regnavit'', 2003 – Glossa GCD 21607 * George Frideric Handel, ''Water Music – Fireworks'', 2003 – Glossa GCD 921606 *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, (Coffret Charpentier) ''Te Deum'' H.146, H.547 & ''motets – Messe à 4 voix de Mr de Mauroy'' H.6 ''- Domine Salvum Fac Regem H.299 – 3 Leçons de Ténèbres'' H.135, H.136, H.137'', 5 Méditations pour le Carème'' H,380, H.381, H.386. H.387, H.388, 2003 – Glossa GCD 98003 *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Messe de Monsieur de Mauroy'' H.6 – ''Domine Salvum Fac Regem'' H.299, 2002– Glossa GCD 921602 *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, 3 ''Leçons de Ténèbres'' H.135, H.136, H.137 – 5 ''Méditations pour le Carème'' H.380, H.381, H.386, H.388, H.387, 2002 – Glossa GCD 921604 * Joseph Boismortier, ''Daphnis & Chloé'', 2002 – Glossa GCD 921605 * * Henry Purcell, ''Dido and Aeneas'', 2001 – Glossa GCD 921601 * François d'Agincourt, Pièces d’orgue, 2001 – Glossa GCD 921701 * François d'Agincourt, Pièces de clavecin, 2001 – Glossa GCD 921702 *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Te Deum'' H.146, H.547 – Motets H.202, H.365, H.291, 2001 – Glossa GCD 921603 * * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Sérénade, concerto pour basson et pièces pour musette et vielle à roue, 1999 –

8.554.456/57 * * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Le Triomphe d'Iris, 1998 – Naxos 8.554.455 * Paolo Lorenzani, Motets pour le Roy Louis XIV, 1997 – Naxos 8.553.648 * Joseph Michel, Leçons de Ténèbres, 1997 – Naxos 8.553.295 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Ballets de Village et sérénade, 1997 – Naxos 8.553.296 *Louis-Nicola Clérambault, Pastorale, ''Le Triomphe d'Iris,'' 1998 ''-'' Naxos 8.554455F * * Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, Cantates pour soprano et basse, ''Orphée, Léandre et Héro,'' Sandrine Piau, soprano, 1996 – Naxos 8.553.744 * Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, Cantates, ''La Mort d'Hercule, Poliphème'', Luc Coadou, basse, Syphonies II, III, V, VI, VII, 1996 – Naxos 8.553.743 *

Robert de Visée Robert de Visée (1652-1730) was a French lutenist, guitarist, theorbist and viol player at the court of the kings Louis XIV and Louis XV, as well as a singer and a composer for lute, theorbo and guitar. Biography Robert de Visée's place and d ...

et Francesco Corbetta, Pièces en contrepartie à deux guitares et deux théorbes, 1996 – Naxos 8.553.745 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse, ballet comique en trois actes, 1996 – Naxos 8.553.647 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Six Concerti à cinq flûtes traversières seules sans basse, 1995 – Naxos 8.553.639 * Orazio Benevolo, Messe et motets à double chœur, 1995 – Naxos 8.553.636 * Jean-Nicolas Geoffroy, Messe et Magnificat pour orgue et chœur, 1995 – Naxos 8.553.637 *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, "''Vespers of the Blessed Virgin"'' H.221, H.149, H.216, H.150, H.210, H.60. H.72, H.24, 1995 – Naxos 8.553.174 (musique sacrée, vol.2) * Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Messe des morts à 4 voix'' ''et continuo'' H.7 – ''Litanies de la Vierge'' H.89 – ''De profundis'' H.213 – ''Psaume 110 de David à 4 voix'' H.220 – ''Nisi Dominus'' à 4 voix H.160 & H.160 a – ''Élèvation à 5'' H.251 – ''Laudate pueri'' H.203, 1994 – Naxos 8.553.173 (musique sacrée, vol.1) *Marc-Antoine Charpentier, ''Messe'' H.1 – ''Te Deum à 4 voix'' H.147, ''Precatio pro Rege'' H.166, ''Élèvation'' H.275, ''Canticum Zachariae'' H.345, 1996 – Naxos 8.553.175 (musique sacrée, vol 3) * Marc-Antoine Charpentier, "Motets pour la Chapelle de l'Hôtel de Guise" H.44, H.45, H.46, H.47, H.367, H.83, H.76, 1998 – Naxos 8.554.453 (musique sacrée, vol.4) * * Jean-Baptiste Lully, Grands motets vol. 3 : ''Benedictus, Notus in Judae'', ''Exaudiat te, O dulcissime Jesu'', ''Laudate pueri, Domine Salvum fac Regem'', 1994 – Naxos 8.554.399 * Jean-Baptiste Lully, Grands motets vol. 2 : O Lachrymae, De Profundis, Dies irae, Quare fremuerunt, 1994 – Naxos 8.554.398 * Jean-Baptiste Lully, Grands motets vol. 1 : Te Deum, Miserere, Plaude LaetareGallia, 1993 – Naxos 8.554.397 * Jean-Philippe Rameau, ''Pigmalion, Le Temple de la Gloire'' (extraits), 1993 – Virgin Veritas 5 61539 2 * Jean-Philippe Rameau, ''Grands Motets'', 1992 – Virgin Veritas 5 61526 2 * André Campra, ''Messe Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam'' et motets ''Cantate Domino'', ''Deus noster Refugium,'' ''De Profundis'', 1992 – Accord 465 934-2 * André Campra, ''Requiem'', motet ''Benedictus Dominus'', 1991 – Accord 472 236-2 * Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Motet à grand chœur, motets à voix seule mêlés de symphonies, 1991 – Adda 240172 *André Campra, ''Te Deum'', motets ''Notus in Judea Deus'', ''Deus in Nomine tuo'', 1990 - Adda 581250 *

Gioachino Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. He gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote man ...

, ''

La cambiale di matrimonio ''La cambiale di matrimonio'' (; English language, English: ''The Bill of Marriage'' or ''The Marriage Contract'') is a one-act operatic farsa, farsa comica by Gioachino Rossini to a libretto by Gaetano Rossi. The libretto was based on the play b ...

'', 1991 – Accord 476 058-2 * Jean Gilles, ''Te Deum'', motet ''Diligam te Domine'', 1990 – Accord 472 237-2 * Jean Gilles, ''Motet à St-Jean Baptiste,'' ''Trois Lamentations pour la Semaine Sainte'', 1989 – Accord 465 926-2 * Jean Gilles, ''Requiem'', motet ''Beatus quem elegisti,'' 1989 – Accord 465 924-2

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Concert Spirituel, Le Baroque music groups Early music orchestras 1987 establishments in France Musical groups established in 1987