For his third harpsichord recital in the ‘Cité de la Musique’ series, the remarkable French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset plays six of Froberger’s most authoritative suites on a legendary instrument considered a ‘national treasure’ by the French state.
Christopher Rousset’s interpretation of Froberger’s suites is all the more impressive and praiseworthy given Froberger’s insistence to have all his manuscripts destroyed after his death, claiming that no one else would be capable of playing his compositions. Froberger was highly sought-after, admired, and regarded as a model to be followed by his European contemporaries.
Christophe Rousset is one of the finest harpsichordists of his generation and a leader in the late 20th century revival of French Baroque music, acclaimed both in France and internationally. He has won critical accolades for his extraordinary command of the harpsichord repertory. Christophe Rousset’s recordings of the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin, Rameau, D’Anglebert and Forqueray and his regular incursions into the music of J.S Bach, are regarded as benchmarks.
“[The Couchet harpsichord] makes a beautiful, richly resonant sound, rendering it ideal for Froberger’s expressive and often melancholic music. Equally well suited is Rousset’s meditative, infinitely flexible approach. His playing is always lovingly articulated and carefully decorated.” Sunday Times, 9th May 2010
“Rousset's fluid grace-notes never obscure the seriousness of these introspective dances...and allows silence to register between the phrases. A thoughtful and distinctive alternative to Richard Egarr's ebullient performance.” The Independent on Sunday, 16th May 2010
“[Froberger] would surely have been reassured by the deep understanding of Christophe Rousset, who uses an exquisite 17th-century Couchet harpsichord, unequally tuned...The grave eloquence of Froberger's sarabandes is perfectly captured” The Observer, 9th May 2010
