Christophe Rousset
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Christophe Rousset (born 1961) is a French harpsichordist and conductor, specializing in the performance of baroque music on period instruments.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Avignon, Christophe Rousset grew up in Aix-en-Provence and developed an interest in the harpsichord during his early teens. His studied at the Schola Cantorum in Paris under Huguette Dreyfus and from 1980 to 1983 he attended the Royal Conservatory at the Hague under Bob van Asperen. In 1983 Christophe won first prize at the 7th International Harpsichord Competition at Bruges; subsequently, his career as a solist took off, and he appeared with ensembles such as: The Academy of Ancient Music, Les Arts Florissants, Musica Antiqua Köln, La Petite Bande and Il Seminario Musicale. With Les Arts Florissants he gained his first conducting experience as assistant to conductor William Christie. In 1991 his ambition for conducting led to the foundation of Les Talens Lyriques, the ensemble which he has conducted to international acclaim ever since. Christophe was also the music director of the 1994 film Farinelli Il Castrato, based the life of Farinelli, the famous castrato.
[edit] Recordings
Christophe Rousset has made recordings for a number of record labels including: Harmonia Mundi, L’Oiseau-Lyre, Fnac Music, EMI-Virgin, Decca, Naïve and Ambroisie. His main contract has been that with Decca, and he has made numerous recordings for the label and its daughter label L’Oiseau-Lyre, both as soloist and as conductor of Les Talens Lyriques.
[edit] Merits and awards
- 1983 -- Was awarded first prize at the 7th International Harpsichord Competition at Bruges
- 1993 -- Was awarded the "Diapason d’Or" for his interpretation of Royer's Pièces de Clavecin.
- 1995 -- Received the "Award for 17th and 18th Century Chamber/Solo Instrumental Music" at the Cannes Classical Awards for his recording of the Bach Partitas.
- 2004 -- Received the "médaille de Chevalier dans l'Ordre national du Mérite" from the France's Minister of Culture, Donnedieu de Vabres.
