LES TALENS LYRIQUES - France

Championing a broad vocal and instrumental repertoire, ranging from early Baroque to the beginnings of Romanticism, the musicians of Les Talens Lyriques aim to throw light on the great masterpieces of musical history, while providing perspective by presenting rarer or little known works that are important as missing links in the European musical heritage. This musicological and editorial work, which contributes to its renown, is a priority for the ensemble.

As well as opera, Les Talens Lyriques explore other musical genres: madrigal, cantata, air de cour, symphonies, and the vast corpus of sacred music (masses, motets, oratorios, Leçons de Ténèbres, and so on). In formations varying from a handful of musicians to more than sixty, representing every generation, they give performances all over the world.

The Ensemble’s rich discography comprises some sixty references on various labels (Erato, Fnac Music, Auvidis, Decca, Naïve, Ambroisie, Virgin Classics, Ediciones Singulares (Palazzetto Bru Zane), Outhere and Aparté). Les Talens Lyriques recorded the famous soundtrack for Gérard Corbiau’s film Farinelli (1994), which sold over a million copies. Released in September 2019, Gounod’s Faust (PBZ) has received numerous awards: Gramophone Choice, Presto Musical editor’s choice, Diapason d’or, Choc Classica 2019… Stefano Landi’s La Morte d’Orfeo, recorded at the Dutch National Opera, was released by Naxos in June 2020.

Partnership between Les Talens Lyriques & the École Normale de Musique de Paris 

The École Normale de Musique de Paris and Les Talens Lyriques are launching a new partnership starting with the 2025/2026 season, featuring a series of four Saturday events at the Salle Cortot in Paris. The first concert of the series will take place on Saturday, October 11, at the Salle Cortot, and will be devoted to the “Lamento,” a hallmark form of musical expression in opera.

Each event consists of a public masterclass led by Christophe Rousset with the singing students of the École Normale, followed by a one-hour concert with Les Talens Lyriques. Christophe Rousset will guide the audience through each program, highlighting a particular feature or concept related to the repertoire. 

These concerts, entitled “Once Upon a Time…”, are open to all audiences and aim to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the works performed.

Saturday, October 11, 2025 – Once Upon a Time… The Lamento
2:00 PM – MASTERCLASS
3:30 PM – CONCERT 

PROGRAM 

Claudio Monteverdi (1567–1643)
Lamento d’Arianna (1623) 

Michel Lambert (ca. 1610–1696)
 Air de cour “Ombre de mon amant” (1689)
 Air de cour “Par mes chants tristes et touchants” (1689) 

Henry Purcell (1659–1695)
Dido and Æneas, Z. 626 (1689) – “Peace and I are strangers grown”
The Blessed Virgin’s Expostulations, Z. 196 (1693) 

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–1687)
Isis, LWV 54 (1677) – “Terminez mes tourments” 

Johann Jacob Froberger (1616–1667)
Suite XIX in C minor
Tombeau fait à Paris sur la mort de Monsieur Blancheroche, FbWV 632 

Louis Couperin (ca. 1626–1661)
Suite in F major
Tombeau de Monsieur Blancrocher

PERFORMERS 

Ambroisine Bré, mezzo-soprano 

Les Talens Lyriques
Christophe Rousset, harpsichord & musical direction