A veritable vocal chameleon, Marc Mauillon moves with ease between opera and operetta, Baroque court melody and mediaeval song. His mesmerising voice displays astonishing versatility and belongs as much to the baritone registers as to that of the tenor.

The present programme offers a nuanced reading of Michel Lambert’s Leçons de Ténèbres, a rare and fascinating seventeenth-century work of obscure roots. The revival of such a score became a true adventure for Marc Mauillon and the musicians who accompany him.

The abundant ornamentation of the vocal part opens up large, free spaces for the musician, all the while demanding that the vocalist remain faithful to the song that inspires it. Performing such music today calls for a refined knowledge of the original aesthetic context, but also relies on the vocalist’s intuition. Respect for the text and innovation intimately interweave before giving renewed life to an art where ornamentation sits at the heart of its poetic expression. Without doubt, that is one the most beautiful qualities of French Baroque art.

----------------------------------

Marc Mauillon : voice
Myriam Rignol : viola da gamba
Roussel Thibaut : lute
Mankar-Bennis Marouan : harpsichord & positive organ