Photo : Conservatoire Nadia et Lili Boulanger - crée avec l'aide de Microsoft IA (Copilot)
A Day at Versailles
For the duration of an audition, students invite the audience on a journey to the heart of Louis XIV's court, where music accompanied every moment of royal life. Between ceremonies, entertainment, and salons, this program honors the baroque flute and the elegance of a repertoire that marked the golden age of French music.
Mairie du 9e arrondissement (Paris 9th)
Part of the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory Events programme
About
At the court of Louis XIV, music was at the heart of the life of power. In Versailles, where the court settled permanently in 1682, the daily life of the king and the aristocracy was punctuated by ceremonies, festivities, spectacles, walks, and hunts. Music accompanied these various moments and fully participated in the court's art of living.
At court, music was not just entertainment: it helped to stage power and organize the king's time. Under the impetus of composers like Jean-Baptiste Lully, musical forms developed in close relation with ceremonies, ballets, operas, and court entertainments. Each occasion thus possessed its own language, rhythm, and musical colors.
The baroque flute occupied a singular place: gentle, warm, and expressive, it lent itself as well to the intimacy of salons as it did to dances, pastorales, and outdoor scenes. In the 18th century, French instrument makers perfected the instrument, and composers entrusted it with an increasingly rich repertoire, based on the ornaments, inflections, and contrasts characteristic of the French taste.
This audition proposes a musical journey through court society, from the pomp of ceremonies to the pleasures of salons and entertainments, up to the effervescence of the great royal hunt. Through this path, students explore baroque phrasing, ornaments, and rhetoric: in the France of the Grand Siècle, playing music also consisted of making the instrument speak and telling the story of a world.
Coordination: Johanne Favre-Engel
Our take on this event
Step back in time to the height of the French monarchy through a captivating musical journey. From the grandeur of royal processions to the private charm of baroque chambers, discover how the flute once defined the rhythm of a kingdom.
Step into the court of Louis XIV for an immersive musical journey through the 17th century. On Saturday, February 6, 2027, discover how baroque flutes defined the aristocratic lifestyle, from official ceremonies to royal hunts. Coordinated by Johanne Favre-Engel, this free event takes place at the Mairie du 9e arrondissement from 16:00 to 17:30. The venue is fully wheelchair accessible and equipped for deaf or hard-of-hearing guests, offering an inclusive experience to explore the intricate phrasing and baroque rhetoric of the Grand Siècle through an evocative instrumental performance.
On February 6, 2027, the Mairie du 9e arrondissement hosts a unique musical exploration focused on the legacy of the French court. From 16:00 to 17:30, attendees will examine the vital role of music during the reign of Louis XIV. Under the coordination of Johanne Favre-Engel, the performance highlights the works of composers like Jean-Baptiste Lully and the specific charm of the baroque flute, an instrument capable of shifting from intimate salon settings to grand outdoor festivities.
The programme traverses the social life of the court, demonstrating how music organized the King's time and solidified political power. Through a display of phrasing and baroque embellishments, the performers aim to bring the historical soundscape of the 17th century to life, illustrating everything from official state functions to the excitement of the royal hunt. Admission is free for all visitors.
Accessibility is a priority for this event; the venue is fully wheelchair accessible and provides necessary support for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, ensuring that the history and beauty of the period are shared with the widest possible audience.
