There are musicians whom history has unjustly forgotten. Sébastien de Brossard is one of them. A priest, composer, and insatiable collector, this man of the Grand Siècle devoted his life to music with rare passion, amassing a musical library so valuable that he donated it to King Louis XV in exchange for a pension, a treasure that is now preserved at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.

This concert invites you to rediscover him. Throughout the program, you will encounter several facets of Brossard: that of the church musician, contemplative and inspired, through his motet Quemadmodum desiderat cervus for bass voice, a magnificent work that has never been recorded; and that of the bon vivant, with his delightful drinking songs. For Brossard loved prayer as much as he loved celebration. Among his circle were Charpentier, whom he met in Parisian salons, and Carissimi, the great Italian master whose scores he collected with devotion.

Making way for the next generation! This concert showcases a new generation of harpsichordists from the studios of Luc Beauséjour at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and Elizaveta Miller at McGill University. Through a varied program, these young performers reveal their sensitivity, artistic personality, and mastery of an instrument with a rich heritage. Balancing respect for tradition with a fresh perspective, they breathe new life into early music. A special opportunity to discover tomorrow’s talents and celebrate the vitality of the harpsichord in Montreal.

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partitas rank among the absolute pinnacles of the keyboard repertoire. To perform them, Clavecin en concert welcomes French harpsichordist Céline Frisch, co-founder of the Café Zimmermann ensemble and a prominent figure on the early music scene. Drawing on her recently acclaimed recording of these very works, she offers a deeply personal and compelling interpretation, balancing architectural rigour with intimate poetry.