Les Nations

Description

COUPERIN: LES NATIONS LES TALENS LYRIQUES CHRISTOPHE ROUSSET dir. To beautifully conclude the year of Couperin, Christophe Rousset and his Talens Lyriques present here a long-awaited version of the Nations, with disarming grace and fidelity to Couperin's enlightening lesson, who prefers what touches him to what surprises him. The Nations, four "concerts" each consisting of a sonata and a suite, creatively revisit ancient compositions that Couperin renames for the occasion. Likely inspired by pages from Corelli, whose Books of Trio Sonatas were published in the 1680s, Couperin composes La Pucelle, La Visionnaire, and L’Astrée. When he joins the Chapelle royale, these three sonatas, joined by a fourth, La Convalescente, become La Française, L’Espagnole, L’Impériale, and La Piémontaise. Their titles allude to the four great kingdoms of France, Spain, England, and Italy. Precise and solemn, these names nonetheless imbue these pieces with a mysterious charm as only the French and Italian styles intertwine within them.