Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien (Instrumental Ensemble)

Founded: 2006 - Saint-Julien, France

Inspired by the intimate conviction of their founder, flautist and pioneering researcher François Lazarevitch, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien (= LMSJ) have been evolving since 2006 as free spirits on the paths of the Baroque, matching up oral and written sources. Their shared affinities with traditional repertoires and musicians enriched their earliest projects and echœd a whole scholarly archipelago of early and Baroque music - the same inventive feeling for colours, the same energy springing from danced movement, the same pœtic sensibility. Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien awaken slumbering musical collections - but not solely - in an approach both erudite and intuitive, rooted in folk practices and filtered through a demanding, virtuosic and passionate appropriation.

Everything in this alchemy is unique and identifies the ensemble even more than the reference to the brotherhood of violinist-dancers that gave it its name: the relief and elegance of the lines, the flexibility of the swaying phrasings, the richness of a rare early instrumentarium in which flutes and bagpipes stand out, the inner fire electrifying even the best-known works of J.S. Bach or Antonio Vivaldi, the naturalness of expression, which makes every interpretation so familiar yet so new.

In the course of tours in France, Europe and America, and twelve recordings on the Alpha Classics label, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien have reinforced a strong presence on the French and international scenes, unanimously praised by the public and specialised press alike. Their recent CD was released in October 2018 at Alpha Classics: "Purcell, Songs and dances".

Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien are in residency at the Festival de Lanvellec 2018-2020. Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien are supported by the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication - DRAC de Normandie and the Région Normandie. La Caisse des dépôts is the sponsor of Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien.

Members of Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien:

Singers:
Marc Busnel (Bass)
Élodie Fonnard (Soprano)
Robert Getchell (Tenor)
Françoise Masset (Soprano)
Enea Sorini (Baritone)
Simone Sorini (Tenor)

Instrumentalists:
Eric Bellocq (Lute, Theorbo)
Lucile Boulanger (Viola da gamba)
Marie Bournisien (Baroque Harp)
Thomas Dunford (Archlute)
Sylvain Fabre (Old Percussions, Modern Percussions)
Romain Falik (Theorbo)
David Greenberg (Violin)
Sandie Griot (Slide Trumpet)
André Henrich (Theorbo, Guitar, Lute)
Miguel Henry (Theorbo, Guitar, Lute, Cittern)
Graham Mackenzie (Violin)
Tobie Miller (Hurdy-Gurdy, Recorder)
Dominique Paris (Cabrette, Musette)
Pierre Rigopoulos (Percussions)
Nicolas Sansarlat (Violin, Medieval Fiddle, Viola, Rebec, Bombard, Shawm)
Enea Sorini (Dulcimer, Percussions)
Simone Sorini (Lute)
Justin Taylor (Harpsichord, Organ)
Valentin Tournet (Viola da Gamba)

Dancers:
Sarah Berreby (Dancer, choreographer)
Yves Guilcher (Master of Dancing)

"With superlative virtuosity, François Lazarevitch and his musicians whirl the listener away, leaving him with his head in the stars." (Philippe Venturini, Classica)

Sources:
Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2019)

François Lazarevitch: Short Biography | Ensembles: Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien
Bach Discography: Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien (Official Website) [French/English]