Couperin insisted that his pieces be performed exactly as written, stating that any deviation was 'unpardonable negligence'.
Performer Biography
Iddo Bar-Shaï, the Israeli pianist on this recording, received guidance from Alexis Weissenberg and dedicated this album to his memory.
Compositional Technique
Unlike his predecessors who used dance suites, Couperin organized his harpsichord pieces into 27 'ordres' and gave them evocative titles like 'portraits' or 'birdsongs'.
Composer Biography
François Couperin, known as 'le Grand', held high positions at the French court, including organist of the Chapelle Royale and harpsichord teacher to the royal children.
Composer Biography
François Couperin, born in 1668, was a member of a celebrated musical dynasty in France, similar to the Bach family in Germany.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at La Ferme de Villefavard in Limousin, a converted granary with exceptional acoustics designed by Albert Yaying Xu, who also worked on the Cité de la Musique in Paris.
Composer Biography
The Couperin family served as organists at the church of St Gervais in Paris for almost two centuries, starting in 1653 with Louis Couperin.
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