Quatriéme Livre De Piéces De Clavecin (Vingt-troisiéme & Vingt-quatriéme Ordres)

This recording was released in 1978 by the French label Astrée as part of their ambitious project to document the complete harpsichord works of François Couperin. The compositions were originally published in 1730 as the final installment of Couperin’s four-volume collection, written during the height of the French Baroque period while he served as the organist to King Louis XIV. These pieces represent a mature refinement of the clavecin repertoire, characterized by intricate ornamentation, evocative programmatic titles, and a sophisticated harmonic language that bridges the gap between the rigid French dance suites and a more personal, emotional style of keyboard expression.

Blandine Verlet, a renowned interpreter of French harpsichord music, performed these suites on a historical instrument, capturing the delicate timbres and nuanced phrasing for which she was celebrated. The recording was produced during the formative years of Astrée, a label founded by Michel Bernstein, which became highly regarded for its commitment to high-fidelity sound and period-accurate performances. The release was well-received by critics for its clarity and the intimate, scholarly approach Verlet brought to Couperin’s final orders, firmly establishing the label's reputation for excellence in the early music revival of the late 20th century.