November 21, 1996

Contact: Helen Dalrymple (202) 707-1940
Concert Line (202) 707-5502

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Library of Congress Presents Harpsichordist Christophe Rousset and La Harpe de Melodie

The Library of Congress presents two early-music concerts: harpsichordist Christophe Rousset on Dec. 3 and La Harpe de Melodie, featuring harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton, on Dec. 5, as part of the Library's 1996-97 series at the Terrace Theater of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Concert time for both events is 7:30 p.m.

All Library of Congress concerts are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Ticket distribution will begin at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the Terrace Theater. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, with two tickets per patron. Tickets for the Dec. 5 concert will not be available on Dec. 3. For information about the series, call the Concert Line at (202) 707-5502.

On Dec. 3, French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset will present a solo recital of works by Forqueray, Froberger, Louis Couperin, and Rameau. Considered one of the most sought-after interpreters of his generation, Mr. Rousset is admired internationally not only as a keyboard artist, but also as a conductor of the Paris-based ensemble Les Talens Lyriques, which he created in 1991; repertoire for the group ranges from motets to operas and French cantatas.

Since 1993, he has conducted Les Talens Lyriquesinperformances of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea at the Amsterdam Opera, Handel's Scipione and a series of performances of Favart's La Fee Urgele. Mr. Rousset has also performed with such leading artists as William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe and Wieland Kuijken, as well as with the baroque ensembles Les Arts Florissants and Il Seminario Musicale.

Mr. Rousset's most recent conducting projects include Jommelli's Armida Abandonnata (1994) and Handel's Riccardo Primo (1995) at the International Baroque Music Festival of Beaune. This year, he will conduct a series of performances of Monteverdi's L'Incoronazione di Poppea, Cimarosa's Il Mercato di Malmantile, Mondonvilles's Les Fetes de Paphos, and Handel's Rinaldo.

Mr. Rousset has received praise for his work on the soundtrack recording for the movie, "Farinelli," which won the Golden Globe Award. His discography includes the most comprehensive collection of the music of Fran‡ois Couperin recorded to date, with 14 discs available on the Harmonia Mundi label.

On Dec. 5, La Harpe de Melodie, with harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton, soprano Susan Rode Morris, gambist Roy Whelden and percussionist Peter Maund, will take a journey through time and across Europe with music from the 12th to the 17th centuries -- 12th century Anglo-Norman lais (songs) to Italian music for solo harp.

Harpist Cheryl Ann Fulton, described by the San Francisco Examiner as "a genuine virtuosa of her instrument," is the foremost American performer of historical harps, and one of the few harpists in the world to have mastered the art of the triple harps as well as the medieval and pedal harp. She earned her bachelor's degree in early-music performance while serving as Associate Instructor of Historical Harp at the Early Music Institute (under the direction of Thomas Binkley) at the School of Music at Indiana University. In 1987, she received a Fulbright grant to research and performance in Lisbon, Portugal, where she served as principal harpist for the Orchestra of the Gulbenkian Foundation. A hit at the 1996 Berkeley Early Music Festival, Ms. Fulton performs on authentic period harps -- medieval, Iberian double, and Italian triple.

Susan Rode Morris is a singer of unusual versatility whose accomplishments encompass a wide range of repertoire and musical styles. She has received critical acclaim for her expressivity and naturalness in singing, as well as for her communicative presence.

Ms. Morris is a member of Ensemble Alcatraz (as is Ms. Fulton and Mr. Maund), and she has also sung with such acclaimed ensembles as the Philharmonic Baroque Orchestra, American Bach Soloists, Women's Philharmonic, Sequentia, and the Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players. A specialist in Scottish vocal music, Ms. Morris has recorded several collections of songs by Robert Burns.

For information about these and other events in the Library of Congress concert series, please call the Concert Information Line at (202) 707-5502.

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PR 96-166
11/27/96
ISSN 0731-3527