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Paris 1913 brought to life by Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth at the EIF

François-Xavier Roth conducts Les Siècles
© Ryan Buchanan
Véronique Gens, Julien Behr, François-Xavier Roth, Jean-Sébastien Bou and Les Siècles
© Ryan Buchanan
By David Smythe, 17 August 2022
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“notching up the chaos with snappy rhythmic thuds in a whirlwind of pulsing strings”
Reviewed at Usher Hall, Edinburgh on 16 August 2022
Programme
Boulanger, Faust et Hélène
Stravinsky, Le Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)
Performers
Véronique Gens, Soprano
Julien Behr, Tenor
Jean-Sébastien Bou, Baritone
Les Siècles
François-Xavier Roth, Conductor
More Concert reviews
Christof Loy’s understated Werther at the TCE
David Karlin, 22nd March
Massenet’s take on Goethe’s blockbuster novella of unrequited love and suicide is handled with great subtlety by Christof Loy and Marc Leroy-Calatayud. Benjamin Bernheim and Marina Viotti lead a starry vocal cast.
****1
Shimmering, disjointed: Poppe and Ligeti in Lucerne
Elodie Olson-Coons, 7th September
Les Siècles make their Lucerne Festival debut with a slightly uneven Poppe-Ligeti programme, at the heart of which Isabelle Faust nevertheless shines
***11
Mixed performances in Ligeti and Mozart from Les Siècles
David Truslove, 20th August
Three concertos and a symphony made for an unusual but generous programme, but Les Siècles illustrate that versatility can come with mixed blessings. 

***11
A stunning Barbican debut by Les Siècles
Roy Westbrook, 20th June
Marking their 20th anniversary with a celebratory tour, Les Siècles perform French classics at the Barbican under their twinkle-toed founder, François-Xavier Roth. 
*****
An exotic banquet to savour from Les Siècles
Mark Pullinger, 16th August
It was truly magnifique to welcome French period instrument orchestra Les Siècles and François-Xavier Roth to the BBC Proms for a highly perfumed programme of exotic sweetmeats.
*****
For whom the bell tolls at the Opéra Comique
Mark Pullinger, 9th June
Palazzetto Bru Zane, spurred on by the zealous advocacy of conductor François-Xavier Roth, has turned to Saint-Saëns' very first opera, Le Timbre d'argent.
***11
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Faust et HélèneFrançois-Xavier RothIgor StravinskyJean-Sébastien BouJulien BehrLe Sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring)Les SièclesLili BoulangerVéronique Gens
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David Smythe
David Smythe
David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.