LA VIOLA ALLA FRANCESE da Marin Marais a Monsieur de Saint-Colombe

In the setting of the Galleria, the Ensemble Le Viole di Parma explores the golden age of the viola da gamba between the second half of the seventeenth century and the early decades of the eighteenth century. The program recreates the intimate atmosphere of the royal chambers and aristocratic salons of Versailles, where music becomes conversation and a mirror of the sensitivity of the Grand Siècle. The protagonists of the evening are the two viols of Patxi Montero and Teresa Lion, who converse as equals in the Concerts à deux violes égales by Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe — the pioneer who added the seventh string to the instrument — and in the famous Second Suite by Marin Marais, his illustrious pupil. The contrapuntal texture of the viols finds refined support and moments of intimate meditation in the Preludes for theorbo by Robert de Visée and for harpsichord by Jean-Henri D’Anglebert. The event is preceded in the morning by a special listening selection for families and children aged between 0 and 12 years.