Leçons De Ténèbres

Released in 1986 on the label Le Chant Du Monde, this recording of François Couperin’s Leçons de Ténèbres marks a significant period in the late 20th-century revival of Baroque performance practice. Composed in 1714 for the nuns of Longchamp, the Leçons are masterpieces of the French liturgical style, designed to be performed during the Tenebrae services of Holy Week. The music is characterized by its profound emotional gravity and delicate ornamentation, intended to reflect the somber nature of the Lenten season through intricate vocal lines and austere instrumental accompaniment.

The 1986 production, featuring Jean Belliard and Hervé Lamy, was directed by Ivète Piveteau with Philippe Foulon on viola da gamba. Piveteau’s approach to this recording emphasized the architectural clarity of the composition, aiming to capture the hushed, devotional intensity of the original convent setting. Upon its release, the interpretation was recognized for its technical precision and its respect for the traditional French style, cementing its status as a notable addition to the discography of 18th-century French sacred music during a time when period-instrument recordings were becoming increasingly established in the classical canon.