Ensemble Correspondances

Founded in 2009 by harpsichordist and organist Sébastien Daucé, Ensemble Correspondances has established itself as a leading reference in French Baroque repertoire of the Grand Siècle. Over sixteen years, it has distinguished itself through its work in rediscovering unpublished works and its interpretation rooted in the musical practices of the 17th century, offering contemporary listeners an authentically Baroque sound experience.

At the heart of Correspondances’ artistic mission lies in‑depth research, which has enabled major reconstructions such as the Ballet Royal de la Nuit, the monumental work marking the beginning of Louis XIV’s reign, as well as Le Sacre de Louis XIV. These projects reflect the ensemble’s commitment to bringing pivotal moments in French musical history back to life, while highlighting both renowned composers and forgotten figures of the period.

The ensemble brings together a troupe of singers and instrumentalists specialising in Baroque music and has rapidly developed an extensive discography, celebrated by both national and international critics.

Correspondances also explores innovative staged forms, blending music, theatre, and dance. In 2017, its reconstruction of the Ballet Royal de la Nuit, choreographed by Francesca Lattuada, offered a 21st‑century reinterpretation of the work. The ensemble has continued this approach with productions such as Songs, directed by Samuel Achache, and Cupid & Death, an English masque created in 2021 at the Théâtre de Caen by Jos Houben and Emily Wilson. In 2021, Correspondances made its debut at the Aix‑en‑Provence Festival with Combattimento, la théorie du cygne noir, a utopian composition built around Monteverdi and his contemporaries. In 2023, the ensemble created David et Jonathas at the Théâtre de Caen in a staging by Jean Bellorini, reconnecting with the hybrid form combining opera and theatre characteristic of the Grand Siècle. In 2025, Correspondances returns to Aix‑en‑Provence with Cavalli’s Calisto.

The ensemble is also active in disseminating Baroque music beyond traditional venues. Since 2020, Correspondances has organised the summer tour “Échappée musicale normande”, a musical journey in which musicians travel by bicycle through the rural landscapes of Normandy to bring polyphony and lyric repertoire to often overlooked villages.

In 2023, Correspondances launched the Heures Musicales de la Sainte‑Chapelle, a tribute to its favoured composer Marc‑Antoine Charpentier, with a new edition held in 2024. The ensemble is in residence at the Théâtre de Caen and receives support from La Vie Brève – Théâtre de l’Aquarium for its creative residencies.

Recognising its rigorous, scholarly, and artistic approach, the Société Générale Corporate Foundation supported Ensemble Correspondances from 2016 to 2020 and renewed its commitment to Sébastien Daucé and his team in 2025.

Photo credit: Victoire Andrieux