So... The reason why I took an afternoon off work was to listen to some Johann Sebastian Bach. Every Thursday afternoon from October through June, the Versailles Baroque Music Centre organises short concerts in the royal chapel for the very reasonable price of 6 euros. This time, along with a couple of organ pieces, it was one of Bach's Motets: "Jesu meine Freude" sung by the Versailles choir "les pages et les chantres", which can be translated by "the pageboys and eulogists" of Versailles. It's currently a 20 children and 17 young adults strong choir directed by Olivier Schneebeli, who has worked with some great names like William Christie and Philippe Herreweghe.You can listen to some Marc-Antoine Charpentier by the choir by clicking here. It's music that would have been listened to at the Palace in the days when kings reigned over France.
If you are ever in Versailles and visiting the palace on a Thursday, I strongly recommend staying on and sitting down to enjoy the chapel in a quieter way, to relax after the exertion of the day's visit.
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Voici donc la raison pour laquelle j'avais pris une demi-journée de congés pour me rendre à la chapelle du château. Le Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles y organise tous les jeudis après-midi un concert, d'octobre à juin. Cette fois-ci, il s'agissait de quelques morceaux d'orgue et du Motet "Jesu meine Freude" de Jean-Sébastien Bach. Le choeur, les Pages et Chantres du Centre, 20 enfants et 17 jeunes adultes est dirigé par Olivier Schneebeli, qui a travaillé avec des grands noms tels que William Christie et Philippe Herreweghe. Vous pouvez écouter un morceau de Marc-Antoine Charpentier par les Pages et les Chantres par ici, c'est une musique qui a été écoutée en ces lieux au temps des rois de France. Si vous êtes à Versailles un jeudi, n'hésitez pas. Pour 6€, vous pouvez admirer la chapelle en écoutant un peu de douceur dans ce monde de brutes, et si besoin, vous reposer agréablement après avoir piétiné dans le château !
That sounds absolutely wonderful, and definitely something that my husband and I would enjoy!
ReplyDeleteBonjour !
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for share this post! I visited the link and almost cried here because it is really perfect for my ears ( Marc-Antoine Charpentier 'Beatus vir...).
Have a wonderful Sunday in your ciel de quimper !
Léia :-)
By the way, you did well. I should take many afternoons like that for such a good reason!
You are so lucky to have all these cultural opportunities. I did listen and it was very impressive. We shall, the next time we are in Versailles, take up on your suggestion!
ReplyDeletePerfect reason to take an afternoon off from work. The music must have sounded wonderful in the cathedral.
ReplyDeleteExceptional music and the chapel is of course great and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteA lovely and informative post, Ciel, on why you went to the chapel. Thanks for the links too!
ReplyDeleteA royal experience in a royal city.
ReplyDeleteDéfinitivement une bonne raison de "sêcher les cours" ! Pour le plaisir des oreilles et celui de tes visiteurs.
ReplyDeleteBon dimanche CdQuimper : )
Incredible and beautiful, thank you. I especially liked the hand held photo of the choir. I need to include more people in my photos.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Beautiful captures!
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I love the music...and when I was at Versailles...we did not have too much time to see all we wanted.....I hope I can go again sometime.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to spend the afternoon. I can hear Bach now. I am glad you enjoyed the Desert Wildflower Chihuly exhibit on my site. Everybody loves Chihuly. I will keep posting more of Chihuly over time.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a cherished way to spend the afternoon! I will have to remember. Thank you~
ReplyDeleteHi! (National trust shop is still there yes!) Love Bach by the way and imagine that the concert was heavenly.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to hear the music and see the church art embedded within your post!
ReplyDeleteEveryone should take an afternoon off to do something as wonderful as this.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite an impressive floor. I'm thinking of something new for my apartment. Maybe this would be a bit extravagant? ;)
ReplyDeleteHmmm to see that I would take the afternoon off too. Oh it looks like such a wonderful production.
ReplyDeleteMany many years ago in Paris I went into Notre-Dame just while they where testing a performance. The author was Albinoni but it doesn't change too much and it doesn't count to love J.S.Bach as I do. What really counts are those butterflies you feel inside while you are living this wonderful experience. A moving experience indeed. I envied you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful music and location. I did manage to see and hear one like it when I was in Paris. My next trip I will definitely go to Versailles and will try to do it on a Thursday.
ReplyDeleteWonderful.
That's a great event at a historic site. Wish I could listen the choir on the ground.
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