The Prime Musician of the World

Available for 29 days

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) was a pioneer in the history of music, one of the first to bring sonatas and cantatas into the French repertoire, and the first woman in France to compose a performed opera. She explored and pushed further the possibilities of musical composition, as well as writing some of the most beautiful pieces of the Baroque era. She worked under the patronage of the most powerful figures of this Grand Siècle that saw the absolute reign of Louis XIV and the construction of his dreamed Versailles. And yet, there are still many elements of mystery and unknown in this composer's story. Kate Molleson invites you to (re)discover the extraordinary adventures of a gifted musician, with a soupçon of French flair and lots of gorgeous music. In this fifth episode, we conclude Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's story, as she writes airs for the theatre and musical thanks for a new young king; and is still composing bold new music. Harpsichord Suite (No. 5) in D minor from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707) IX. Rigaudon X. Rigaudon II XI. Charconne Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord Le Sommeil d’Ulysse ["Ulysses' Sleep"] (excerpts) from Cantates Françaises (1715) Isabelle Desrochers, soprano Les Voix Humaines Christine Payeux, viola da gamba/director Le Raccomodement Comique de Pierrot et de Nicole ["Pierrot and Nicole's Comical Reconciliation"] (1715) Isabelle Poulenard, soprano Michel Verschaeve, baritone Françoise Bloch, viol Georges Guillard, harpsichord Trio Sonata in G minor from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695) Ensemble Diderot Johannes Pramsohler, baroque violin/director Air à boire La Provençale: 'Entre nous mes chers amis' ["Drinking Song La Provençale: 'Between us, dear friends'"] from Recueil d'Airs Sérieux et à Boire de Différents Auteurs (1724) Anne Azéma, soprano Harpsichord Suite No. 6 in G major from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707) III. Sarabande Elizabeth Farr, harpsichord Sonata in A minor from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695) Sophie de Bardonnèche, violin Lucile Boulanger, viola da gamba Justin Taylor, harpsichord Céphale et Procris ["Cephalus and Procris"] Prologue (excerpts) Reinoud van Mechelen, tenor/haute-contre (Céphale) Lore Binon, soprano (Flore) Lisandro Abadie, bass-baritone (Pan) Gwendoline Blondeel, soprano (Nymphe) Wei Lian Huang, soprano (Nymphe) Namur Chamber Choir a nocte temporis Reinoud van Mechelen, director Team of the week Presenter: Kate Molleson Producer: Julien Rosa Production Coordinator: Ellie Phillips Mixing: Jonathan Thomas Composer of the Week is a BBC Audio Wales production for BBC Radio 3