In 1735, Porpora challenged Handel in London with Polifemo, a work that still resonates today as a vibrant ode to triumphant love. On the bewitching shores of Sicily, Galatea falls in love with the mortal Acis. This pure passion arouses the fierce jealousy of the Cyclops Polifemo, whose rage threatens to sweep everything away. But the unexpected arrival of Ulysses and the intrigues hatched by Calypso weave a complex web where gods and mortals clash. Carried by a constellation of exceptional soloists and conducted by Stefan Plewniak, this opera masterfully weaves together the legacy of a baroque golden age and the timeless power of myth.

In 1725, Jose de Torres crafts the narrative of the royal funerals of Spain's first Bourbon monarchs. At the heart of this tribute, the Misa de difuntos para Luis I, the first Bourbon born on Iberian soil, blends with exquisite finesse the echoes of Versailles with the exuberant splendour of Spanish Baroque. The offering is here completed by the monumental Dies Irae by Francisco Corselli, a Franco-Italian composer, to the glory of Philip V. Alberto Miguelez Rouco revives these rare works, bringing the music of the Real Capilla de Madrid to life in the Royal Chapel of Versailles!

With Hail! Bright Cecilia, Henry Purcell, herald of the British Baroque, pays tribute to the patron saint of music through a score widely regarded as one of his masterpieces. Composed in 1692, this ode reflects both the artistic effervescence of 17th-century England and the central role of music in society at the time. Vincent Dumestre and Le Poeme Harmonique reveal the full expressive richness of Purcell's writing in a performance where jubilant brilliance, lyrical delicacy, and dramatic contrasts unfold with infectious vitality. Alternating between recitatives, solo arias, and sumptuous choruses, the score showcases Purcell's mastery of musical dramaturgy, balancing orchestral refinement with controlled theatricality.

While the famous Te Deum secured Charpentier's place in history, it was undoubtedly his Messe de Minuit that most contributed to his renown. True to Charpentier's genius, this mass is a perfect synthesis of the secular and the sacred, popular melodies and refined composition, offering a piece of remarkable originality and joy. These melodies, familiar to all, peasants and gentlemen alike, are enriched by orchestral parts and interwoven with subtle counterpoint and renewed harmony. The pleasure of music is thus offered to everyone: to recognise a familiar tune, or to grasp it's extraordinary arrangement. Under the direction of Gaetan Jarry, the Marguerite Louise ensemble sublimates these Latin oratorios and French pastorals, infusing the Christmas celebration with unparalleled fervour!

In the autumn of 1725, as France celebrated the union of Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska, the French ambassador in Venice entrusted Vivaldi with the composition of a serenata in honor of the young royal couple. This commission inspired a sumptuous work, carried by two allegorical figures: Imeneo, god of marriage, and Gloria, the radiant embodiment of French majesty. In turn, these voices rise, echo each other, and gracefully contend in virtuosity, before blending in a sumptuous final duet, sealing their tribute in perfect harmony. Logan Lopez Gonzalez and Nicolo Balducci lend their talent and sensitivity to these roles, exalting Vivaldi's music. In the profusion of his work, this brief yet striking piece stands out as much for it's diplomatic finesse as for it's inspired brilliance - an enchantment offered to the French Court.

The English musical Renaissance reached it's apogee with Henry Purcell. Inspired by French pomp and Italian melodies, he forged a unique style, blending royal splendour with an authentic British spirit. His masterpiece, Dido and Aeneas, is a timeless lyrical gem, exploring the eternal tragedy of love and abandonment. The majestic Sonya Yoncheva plays Dido, the queen in love betrayed by fate, while Halidou Nombre gives voice to the passions of Aeneas, torn between his love and the call of Rome, who is caught up in an intrigue hatched by dark forces. At the Opera Royal of Versailles, the music of the Orpheus britannicus resonates with eternal splendour, magnified by the dreamlike staging of Cecile Roussat and Julien Lubek. Their masterful approach, combining mime, dance and acrobatics, transforms every moment into a magical tableau, sublimated by the fervour of the young soloists from the Academie de l'Opera Royal.

Poppea, a courtesan with an insatiable thirst for power, weaves her destiny with formidable grace. Mistress of the Emperor Nero, she frees herself from all restraints, sweeping aside past loves, orchestrating the suicide of the philosopher Seneca and precipitating the fall of the Empress Octavia. Her coronation and the coveted union with Nero could be seen as nothing more than a manifesto of amorality. However, under Monteverdi's majestic inspiration and Stephane Fuget's fervent direction, this ascension is transformed into an intoxicating ode to all-powerful desire, revealing the terrifying beauty of unrestrained ambition!

Amid the pomp of the court, the ear of the young Louis XIV was awakened to the charms of the harpsichord. Surrounded by the most illustrious harpsichordists, he explored a world where music was still a treasure passed from hand to hand. While French harpsichord making flourished, Jacques Champion de Chambonnieres published the first printed scores in 1670. From unmeasured preludes, to poignant tombeaux imbued with subtle melancholy, to delicate arrangements of popular airs, the harpsichord of Louis XIV echoes an era of unprecedented musical richness. Brice Sailly's sublime interpretation highlights the splendour and diversity of this golden age of the French harpsichord.

Marc-Antoine Charpentier, with his Messe a quatre choeurs, delivers a unique work that reflects a rare encounter between French tradition and the splendor of Roman Baroque. Inspired by the grand polychoral works of Gabrieli and Benevoli whom he listened to attentively during his stay in Italy he unfolds a choral dialogue of exceptional breadth. Four vocal and instrumental ensembles face each other, respond, and intertwine in a play of echoes and timbres that transcends the liturgical space. Jean-Baptiste Nicolas brings an exalted momentum to this masterpiece of sacred music, combining stylistic precision with interpretative finesse.

While Pygmalion, Rameau's emblematic work, reveals the passion of a sculptor in love with his creation, Pierre Iso's Zemide reveals the gentle tyranny of Love, weaving an allegory in which even the fiercest hearts yield to it's power. Like Galatea awakening under Pygmalion's gaze, this vibrant programme of Baroque passion comes to life under the inspired direction of Reinoud Van Mechelen, offering a spectacle where music and sentiment intertwine in dazzling symphonies.

In addition to his reputation as a dancer, the Sun King was also a musician. Under the enlightened influence of his mother, Anne of Austria, the young Louis XIV learned to play the lute and then the guitar. Once relegated to commoners, this instrument became a symbol of royal refinement. Beyond simple entertainment, this musical craze served a political purpose: to seduce the court and the people, and to weave harmony between French, Italian and Spanish cultures. Like a new King David, monarch-musician par excellence, Louis XIV crafted the image of an Apollonian sovereign, master of the arts as much as of power. Together with exceptional musicians, Lea Masson reveals this forgotten facet of the guitarist king!

In a palace at the edge of the Ottoman Empire, Constance, a noble captive, lives under the watchful guard of the powerful Pasha Selim, who longs for her heart. But Belmonte, her devoted lover, braves seas and dangers to find her. With the help of Pedrille, he attempts a daring escape, all under the suspicious eye of Osmin, the brutal yet comical guard. Nighttime intrigues, outlandish disguises, and eternal vows weave an exuberant comedy where emotions are put to the test. The Orchestre de l'Opera Royal, conducted by Gaetan Jarry, blends liveliness and eloquence to bring to life one of Mozart's most spirited works-performed in French!

When Atys was first performed before the court in 1676, Lully was at the peak of his triumph: his tragedie lyrique became "the King's opera," so highly did the monarch esteem it's quality. The chords unfold to embody human passions and divine wills, guiding the young Atys's romantic impulses and the wounded fury of the goddess Cybele. With Atys, Lully establishes love as the central thread of the drama, weaving around this sovereign passion a tale where the impulses of the heart, celestial jealousies, and human flaws intertwine to seal the fate of the heroes. Leonardo Garcia-Alarcon conducts this new version with exquisite finesse, elevating Lully's music to carry souls into an enchanting dream.

In this dazzling comedy by Rameau, the ugly, frog-like, nymph Platee believes she is Jupiter's chosen one. The latter, in a succession of disguises, mocks her in a game of seduction that is as cruel as it is entertaining, while the gods, complicit in the farce, feast on her illusions. Rameau's music is both rich and virtuosic, transporting us into a whirlwind of laughter and beauty, while offering a fine reflection on pride and vanity. With it's bewitching arias and numerous burlesque scenes, Platee is a theatrical delight, a veritable jewel of the Baroque repertoire to which Valentin Tournet and his Chapelle Harmonique return all it's spice!

Neglected since Charpentier's death, the oratorio genre finds in Clerambault a worthy successor to the master with his poignant version of the biblical story l'Histoire de la Femme adultere. Conducted by Reinoud Van Mechelen, a nocte temporis delivers a masterly performance in which every note reveals the depth of the human soul, while the Ch�ur de Chambre de Namur displays all it's virtuosity in the timeless Te Deum � Grand Ch�ur, a true testament to Clerambault's genius!