Couperin, F: Pièces de clavecin III: Ordre 13ème in B minor: Les folies Françaises, ou Les dominos

Born in 1964 the French harpsichordist, Pierre Hantaï, gave his first concerts at an early age, alone or with his brothers Marc and Jérôme. He then spent two years studying in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt, who subsequently invited him to perform under his direction. In 1983 Hantaï scored his first major triumph through taking first prize at the International Bach-Handel Competition of Bruges in Belgium; since then, Hantaï has collected an impressive number of honours and awards.

French harpsichordist Olivier Baumont has distinguished himself as a performer and scholar, specializing in French Baroque repertoire. He took up the harpsichord without learning piano first, sharing his family's love for French history of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. He studied with Kenneth Gilbert and Huguette Dreyfus and worked with Gustav Leonhardt in his master classes in Cologne. He was awarded first prize in harpsichord (1981) and in chamber music (1982) at the Paris Conservatory and won the Concours de Solistes de Radio France in 1982. He frequently performs at music festivals in Europe, England, and the United States, and has toured widely. Since 1992, he has directed the Festival Couperin at Chaumes-en-Brie. In September, 2001, Baumont became professor of harpsichord at the Paris Conservatory. He is the author of a biography of François Couperin, has edited harpsichord works by Michel Corrette and Jacques Duphly, and has contributed scholarly articles to numerous musicological journals.

This programme of Couperin/Debussy/Messiaen, is constructed like a voyage through the centuries and is dedicated to three composers whose connections are manifest: Debussy’s elegance and clarity are clearly reminiscent of Couperin, and Messiaen was fascinated by Debussy’s innovations and touched by the subtle musical impressions of the elder composer. The musical voyage is made even more agreeable by the absorbing playing of Cédric Pescia.