Philidor le Grand: Carmen sæculare (Live)

On September 7th, we celebrate the tercentenary of François-André Danican Philidor “The Great”, one of the most illustrious figures of a dynasty that held prestigious musical posts from the reign Louis XIII to that of Louis XVI. Threatened during the Revolution for his supposed royalist ties, his exile in London marked the end of this extraordinary musical lineage. Before his flight, he had distinguished himself both as a world-renowned chess prodigy and as a formidable composer, excelling particularly in the world of opera and sacred music. His masterpiece, Carmen sæculare, stands out as a highly original secular oratorio. Based on Horace’s hymn celebrating prosperity, civic virtue and social harmony, this majestic work won over the Enlightenment’s greatest minds, including Philidor’s close friend Denis Diderot. This live recording by Jean-Claude Malgoire at the Saint-Michel en Thiérache Abbey brilliantly restores it to its former glory.