CMBV: Registration opens for the 2027 professional training workshops

Registration for the 2027 workshops organised by the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles (CMBV) opens on 2 November 2026. Designed for music professionals and students, these professional development opportunities focus on French musical repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries. Through masterclasses, experimental workshops, professional meetings and practical sessions, participants can deepen their performance practice, exchange experiences and explore new approaches to early music.

The 2027 programme offers several opportunities to discover historical repertoire, explore research and experiment with instruments and performance techniques.

Digital resources for Baroque music introduces participants to digital resources dedicated to Baroque music, particularly those developed by the CMBV. The workshop will explore existing databases, how to identify reliable sources, and good practices for citation, resource use and bibliographic research. Two formats are available: an in-person session on 16 January and an online session on 20 January.

Double reeds: from reed to music, taking place on 5 and 6 February, offers an introduction to research into double-reed instruments. Building on the ANR Anches research project and the reconstruction of a set of historical oboes for the 2025 production of Atys, the professional meeting will bring together musicians, instrument makers and researchers. Participants will discover the project's latest findings, experiment with reconstructed instruments and discuss historical instrument making, performance practice and historical sound.

On 25 and 26 February, a meeting and experimental workshop with the ensemble Nevermind will offer participants the opportunity to work directly with the ensemble's musicians through individual and collective musical sessions. The workshop will focus on repertoire for this distinctive instrumental formation, including works by Jean-Baptiste Quentin, Louis-Gabriel Guillemain and Georg Philipp Telemann.

---

Les goûts réunis: repertoire for two harpsichords, on 15 March, offers a rare opportunity to play the two historical harpsichords preserved at the Palace of Versailles. Led by Béatrice Martin and Olivier Baumont, whose longstanding artistic collaboration informs the workshop, participants will explore original works and transcriptions for two harpsichords, drawing inspiration from the meeting of French and Italian styles associated with François Couperin.

Finally, French music with Paul Agnew, on 5 and 6 March, is a collective masterclass for established vocal ensembles. Led by the tenor and co-musical director of Les Arts Florissants, the sessions will focus on French Baroque repertoire, with particular attention to interpretation, declamation, stylistic practice and ensemble sound.

These workshops offer musicians and students a chance to deepen their knowledge of the French Baroque repertoire while engaging with historical instruments, current research and specialist performers.