Les Escapades du Roi

French Baroque Music from the Court of Louis XIV and Louis XV


There is love, intrigue, pining and dancing at the French royal court.
Louis XIV, Louis XV and their mistresses determine what is "en vogue".
Courtly life hangs by a thread, for only those who follow the latest fashions can secure their position and livelihood.
But this happiness often lasts only a short time...

An insight into the colourful and dazzling world of the Sun King is promised by the viol consort Les Escapades with music and entertaining commentaries from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Works by: Marin Marais, Francois Couperin, Monsieur Forcroy, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel-Richard de Lalande, Jean-Baptiste Lully. and others.
with moderation and letter texts of the 17th and 18th century
Original quotes from
Mme de Sévigné: Letters
Choderlos de Laclos: Dangerous Liaisons (Diogenes)
La Bruyère: Characters, or the Morals of the Century (Library of Sceptical Thought)
Denis Diderot: Letters to Sophie (Louise-Henriette Volland) 1716 - 1784
The Secret Papers of Countess Dubarry (1743 - 1793), Insel Vlg. 1990

Instrumentation: soprano, narrator, violin, harpsichord, lute, 4 viols (8-9 performers)
CD release 2010