Musiques pour les comédies de Molière (CD)

Molière and Lully are known as the founders of the ‘comédie-ballet’. In 1762, after seven years of partnership, the collaboration comes to an end. During this year Molière, looking for a new musical partner, makes the knowledge of Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

While the former is approaching the last part of his life, the latter is starting is career as musician. His name is associated to Molière’s for the first time for the double staging of Mariage forcé and La Comtesse d’Esarbagnas. Le Malade imaginaire is, later on, the crowning achievement of all the ‘comédie-ballet’ conceived by Molière. La Simphonie du Marais here proposes this last piece in the Charpentier’s version, following the restraints imposed by Lully through royal decrees.

Charpentier realizes, in this stage music for Molière, a real master stroke. Text and music rule in perfect harmony, playing the farce register as well as parody one. Under the sign of love and marriage, of adultery and seduction, this program is a tribute to Molière and to his great love to music as much as to Charpentier’s theatrical sensitivity.