Jean Rondeau illuminates La Chaux-de-Fonds with “Melancholy Grace”

By Elodie Olson-Coons, 12 November 2021

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“the result is astonishingly modern-sounding, like Keith Jarrett on the cusp of the Baroque”

Reviewed at Salle de musique, La Chaux-de-Fonds on 11 November 2021

Frescobaldi, Il Secondo libro di toccate (Canzoni)

da Roma, Fantaisie de Mr de Lorency

Rossi, Passacaille del Seigr Louigi

Gibbons, Pavan in A minor

Picchi, Ballo alla Polacha con il suo Saltarello

Bull, Melancholy Pavan

Bull, Melancholy Galliard

Scheidemann, Pavana Lachrymae in D minor, WV 106

Luzzaschi, Toccata del 4° Tono

Storace, Recercar di Legature

Frescobaldi, Il primo libro: toccata quarta

Valente, Sortemeplus, con alcuni fioretti

Strozzi, Toccata quarta per l’elevatione

Sweelinck, Fantasia Chromatica à 4, SwWV258

Jean Rondeau, Harpsichord

Dances without movement: Couperin reconsidered by Jean Rondeau

Mengguang Huang, 31st January

Jean Rondeau’s anniversary tribute to Louis Couperin reveals a refined but inward-looking aesthetic – beautifully controlled, yet ultimately lacking the rhetorical energy, physicality, and communicative spark essential to this music.

**111

In at the deep end for harpsichordist Jean Rondeau in Lucerne

Stephen Pritchard, 7th February

Lucerne’s new festival “Le Piano Symphonique” showcases the orchestral qualities of the piano... and the harpsichord, with a recital in what was once a swimming pool!

****1

Strangers in the night: Poulenc makes a rare visit to Paris

Mark Pullinger, 10th March

Corinna Niemeyer conducts the Orchestre de Paris, which had never played Poulenc's Concert champêtre before, and had only given one performance each of the Sinfonietta and Organ Concerto. Incroyable !

***11

Captivating command and a striking Risser première from Jean Rondeau

Nick Boston, 23rd July

A striking première by Eve Risser following Jean Rondeau’s captivating display of the virtuosic heights of French Baroque harpsichord writing.

****1

Maurice Steger thrills with his virtuosic wizardry

Nahoko Gotoh, 3rd July

Maurice Steger brought this essential but under-represented instrument from Renaissance and Baroque chamber and ensumble music to a mainstream concert hall.

*****

Baroque’n’roll: Sunday morning with Jean Rondeau

Leopold Tobisch, 1st February

Jean Rondeau is now taking the French radio and concert halls by storm, quickly making a name for himself and his mastery of the harpsichord.

****1

More reviews...

Elodie Olson-Coons

Originaire de Lorraine, Elodie Olson-Coons a fait ses études littéraires à Cambridge. Mezzo-soprano et pianiste, elle est particulièrement intéressée par la musique contemporaine et vocale.

Harpsichord virtuoso Jean Rondeau illuminates La Chaux-de-Fonds with “Melancholy Grace”