Handel Semele - Barbican

Eric Larrayadieu
about the performers
About tonight’s performers
Christophe Rousset conductor
Christophe Rousset developed a
passion for the Baroque era at an
early age, taking him to the Schola
Cantorum in Paris, where he studied
harpsichord with Huguette Dreyfus,
then to the Royal Conservatory in The
Hague, to work with Bob van Asperen.
At the age of 22 he won the First Prize
and the Public Prize at the Seventh
Bruges Harpsichord Competition
(1983).
Christophe Rousset became
harpsichordist of Les Arts Florissants,
then Il Seminario Musicale, before
embarking on a career as a music
director, which led him to form his own
ensemble, Les Talens Lyriques, in 1991.
Firing the ensemble with his
enthusiasm as a conductor and
researcher, he became acclaimed for
his performances of Baroque music
both in France and around the world.
This reputation has been developed
6
via festival performances, numerous
recordings and film soundtracks. He is
particularly known for his discovery
and championing of little-known
scores (including Antigona by Traetta,
La capricciosa corretta by Martín y
Soler, Armida abbandonata by
Jommelli, La grotta di Trofonio by
Salieri and Temistocle, by J. C. Bach),
as well as through his work as a soloist,
chamber musician and teacher.
His many recordings include the
complete harpsichord works of
François Couperin, Jean-Philippe
Rameau, d’Anglebert and Forqueray,
and discs of Bach, including the
Partitas, English Suites, French Suites,
Goldberg Variations and harpsichord
concertos. With Les Talens Lyriques, his
recordings include Pergolesi’s Stabat
mater, Mozart’s Mitridate, overtures
by Rameau, Persée and Roland by
Lully and a disc with Véronique Gens
entitled Tragédiennes.
He has taught the harpsichord at the
Accademia Chigiana in Sienna and at
the Paris Conservatoire and also works
with youth orchestras including the
Orchestre Français des Jeunes
Baroque and the Jeune Orchestre
Atlantique.
Christophe Rousset is an Officier des
Arts et Lettres, and Chevalier dans
l’Ordre National du Mérite.
Lorenzo Agius
Danielle de Niese soprano
Australian-born to parents of Sri
Lankan and Dutch heritage, Danielle
de Niese grew up in Los Angeles. She
first came to attention hosting a weekly
arts showcase for teenagers on Los
Angeles local television, for which she
won an Emmy Award. She studied at
the Colburn School and participated
in the summer programmes at
Tanglewood, Aspen and Marlboro
before attending the Mannes School
of Music in New York.
She is in demand in leading opera
houses and concert halls all over the
world and has an exclusive recording
contract. Her acclaimed solo debut
album of Handel arias was followed
by a disc of Mozart arias last autumn.
She became the youngest ever singer
to enter the Metropolitan Opera’s
Lindemann Young Artist Development
Program, aged just 18. A year later she
made her house debut as Barbarina