This album was recorded in the Grand Cabinet of Madame Victoire, another daughter of Louis XV, at the Château de Versailles, using two historical instruments from the castle's collections.
Instruments
The harpsichord used is a 1746 François-Étienne I Blanchet instrument, preserved at the Château de Versailles, which represents the archetypal Parisian harpsichord of the Louis XV period.
Composition History
Antoine Dauvergne, a significant French musician, not only taught composition to Simon Simon but also to Mesdames, the daughters of Louis XV.
Composer Biography
Simon Simon, a talented musician featured on this album, became the harpsichord teacher to the Children of France and later to Queen Marie Antoinette and Madame the Countess of Artois.
Historical Context
The album is titled "À Madame, Divertissement pour Adélaïde" because many of the pieces are dedicated to Madame Adélaïde, one of the eight daughters of Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska.
Instruments
The violin used on this recording is a Nicola Gagliano instrument from around 1741, known as "Madame Adélaïde's violin," which has a captivating and incredible history.
Recording & Production
The recording includes unusual sounds, such as chimes from two historical clocks: one from Madame Victoire's Main Drawing-room and another from the Cabinet de la Méridienne.
