Les Talens Lyriques

Founded in 1991 by harpsichordist and conductor Christophe Rousset, the ensemble Les Talens Lyriques takes its name from the subtitle of Rameau’s Les Fêtes d’Hébé, reflecting its dedication to the music of the early Baroque through to the dawn of Romanticism. The ensemble is committed to performing, championing, and sharing a vast repertoire ranging from opera, cantata, and madrigal to symphonic and large‑scale sacred works. Whether presenting masterpieces of musical history or reviving rare or previously unpublished scores, Les Talens Lyriques has established itself as one of the leading ensembles on the international scene.

Its discography of more than one hundred recordings features emblematic works such as Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater (1999), Mozart’s Mitridate (1999), numerous operas by Rameau, Gluck, Salieri, and Traetta, the acclaimed Tragédiennes series with Véronique Gens, as well as a long‑term cycle devoted to Lully, begun in 2001, now comprising twelve titles (Persée, Roland, Bellérophon, Phaéton, Armide, Alceste, Isis, La Naissance de Vénus, Psyché, Acis et Galatée, Thésée, Atys). Recent projects include albums dedicated to Bach, Cimarosa, Louise Bertin, and the revival of Salieri’s Cublai Can. From 1994 onwards, the ensemble’s reputation grew further with the soundtrack of Gérard Corbiau’s film Farinelli, which sold over one million copies. Their work was recognised with the 2001 Victoire de la Musique for “Best Ensemble,” followed by numerous international awards, particularly for In the Shadows (around Wagner) with Michael Spyres and the rediscovered opera Fausto by Louise Bertin.

Eager to share classical music with the widest possible audience, Les Talens Lyriques have been deeply committed to educational initiatives since their creation. In residence in schools across the Île‑de‑France region since 2007, they develop orchestral classes and mediation programmes. Their innovative approach led to the creation in 2016 of three educational apps, including t@lenschool, which received awards both in France and internationally (Prix de l’Enseignement musical 2017, Public Prize and Jury Prize for Social Impact from News Tank Culture, Classical:NEXT Innovation Award 2018). They have also launched a new online platform, “Le GPS – Grand Parcours Sonore”, offering an engaging journey through Baroque musical Europe.

Since January 2019, the Société Générale Corporate Foundation has been supportingthe ensemble, contributing to its commitment to broadening and disseminating the repertoire from the early Baroque to the Romantic era, both on stage and in recordings.

Photo credit: ©Clemens Manser