大象传媒

Afternoon on 3 with Jonathan Swain

Les Arts Florissants and William Christie, recorded last Tuesday night at the 大象传媒 Proms, in three of Rameau's sacred motets with orchestra - masterpieces of the French Baroque repertoire.

Presented by Sara Mohr-Pietsch at the Royal Albert Hall, London

Rameau: Deus noster refugium
Rameau: Quam dilecta tabernacula
Rameau: In convertendo Dominus

Rachel Redmond (soprano)
Katherine Watson (soprano)
Reinoud Van Mechelen (high tenor)
Cyril Auvity (tenor)
Marc Mauillon (baritone)
Cyril Costanzo (bass)
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie (conductor)

Remembered today as the composer of some of the most glorious operas of the entire Baroque period, it's easy to forget that two thirds of Jean-Philippe Rameau's musical career was spent as a composer not for the stage but for the church. In this late-night Prom, William Christie - the American conductor who has made the music of 18th-century France his life's work - directs three of Rameau's large-scale sacred motets. These rarely-heard pieces, accompanied by orchestra, are infused with all the characteristics of the French baroque repertoire - elegance, wit, sophistication and charm.

First broadcast 29th July 2014.