Marrying stage drama and chamber concert, this début album from Les Surprises draws on 18th century French opera.
Exploring a dynamic repertoire variously familiar and forgotten, bringing theatre into the salon, these enlightened arrangements show real quality and diversity.
You could say that that Les Surprises was born under the star of French opera. Founded by Juliette Guignard and Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas in 2010, Les Surprises was influenced by, and indeed takes it's name, from Rameau and his opera 'Les Surprises de l'Amour'. They play on period instruments and have been resident at the Centre Cuturel de Rencontre d'Ambronay as part of their young ensembles programme. This debut album is therefore devoted to French opera, played in 'chamber' formation, shedding new light on unknown music by François Rebel and Francoeur, alongside benchmark works by Jean-Féry Rebel. Adorned by the voices of Juliet and Etienne Perret Bazola, this disc will uplift and delight.

“This is a good way of exploring that world and the performances are alive to all the nuances of the style in general and these pieces in particular, having given the first modern performances of several of them.” Early Music Review