Beata sirena

Recital by the legendary countertenor
(A. Campra, S. de Brossard, P. Lorenziani, G. Bononcini)

Gérard Lesne – countertenor (France)
Blandine Rannou – harpsichord (France)

Tuesday 17 July 2007, 7.30 pm
Troja Chateau, U Trojského zámku 1, Praha 7

A comparison of Italian and French musical composition from the 17^th and 18^th centuries and their stylistic differences always proves rewarding. The legendary French countertenor Gérard Lesne chose for his Prague appearance a truly piquant programme, comprising the vocal works of French composers and of Italian composers working in Paris during the reign of Louis XIV and XV, who promoted the unpopular Italian style to the French, as did those who remained on the Apennine peninsula. The ‘Pièces de clavecin’ of François Couperin provided a true contrast.