Overview

The vocal and instrumental ensemble Les Arts Florissants, founded in 1979 by the famous harpsichordist and conductor William Christie, specializes in baroque music and historically informed interpretations. From their establishment to this day, Les Arts Florissants have consistently played a leading role in making old music known to wider audiences, rescuing from obscurity and presenting unpublished musical works. This year, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Molière’s birth, Les Arts Florissants present an original spectacle that combines music, dance and – of course – theatre, in an anthology of some of the emblematic French playwright’s crowning works. Although Molière is considered one of the greatest figures in French literature, the place of music in his work has often been underestimated. To shed light on this relationship, Les Arts Florissants present excerpts from fine compositions by Jean-Baptiste Lully and Marc-Antoine Charpentier, written for the great comedian’s major successes.