Posted By Billy on Mar 6, 2022 | 0 comments
In addition to ruling a nation, Louis XIV presided over one of Europe's most lavish royal musical establishments, and his taste in music strongly influenced musical tastes across France. Only the best French musicians were members of the musique de chambre, the king's personal, private retinue of musicians who performed for him in his personal chambers. Louis's highly choreographed day was capped off by the coucher, a set of ceremonies that surrounded the king's evening meal and bedtime. The coucher always involved music, and over the years the coucher brought together such illustrious musicians as Lully, Marais, Couperin, and Rebel, who performed their compositions for the music-obsessed Sun King. We'll recapture what a musical evening in Louis's innermost chambers may have been like, presenting music by the king's favorites in sets interspersed with brief readings from diaries written at Versailles during Louis's life. Join us – it'll be très magnifique!
Tickets may be purchased before the program for the suggested ticket prices, or at the door the day of the performance on a choose-your-own-admission basis, a reflection of our belief that access to the arts should not be impeded by financial means.
Please feel free to join us 30 minutes before the show for an informal talk by the artistic director about the program.
