François Couperin's two Apothéoses, dedicated to Corelli and Lully, aimed to promote the meeting of French and Italian musical styles.
Performer Biography
Amandine Beyer, the violinist and founder of Gli Incogniti, has won several international prizes, including the Premio Antonio Vivaldi for Baroque violin in 2001.
Composition History
Couperin's Apothéose de Corelli was published in 1724, followed by the Apothéose de Lully in 1725.
Historical Context
The compositions reflect a unique era of cultural identity crisis in France, which sparked an aesthetic debate and even led to the 'Guerre des Bouffons'.
Compositional Technique
Couperin's use of Italian clefs when Corelli welcomes Lully to Parnassus, and French clefs for Lully's 'Remerciement', highlights the theatrical element and distinction between styles.
Interpretation
The ensemble Gli Incogniti, founded by Amandine Beyer, aims to convey a committed and cohesive vision of the music through experimentation with sonorities, exploration of new repertoire, and rediscovery of 'classics'.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in January 2014 at the Théâtre des Quatre Saisons in Gradignan, France.
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