Double Lives
With Richard Baker.
2: Francois-Andre Danican Philidor came from not so much a musical family as a musical dynasty: his father, brothers, cousin and uncle were all performers and composers at the royal court of Versailles. The young Philidor won a position at the royal chapel, where he learnt to play chess while waiting to sing mass every morning. He was to become a distinguished composer in his own right, but his skill at chess also earned him a lot of money - especially the matches he played blindfold. He juggled these two careers to suit his needs throughout his life. Including: Lully Plaude Laetare Gallia Le Concert Spirituel, director Herve Niquet
Philidor Melide , ou le Navigateur (excerpt) Christiane Eda-Pierre
(soprano), Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conductor Neville Marriner Bliss Suite: Checkmate (excerpt) Ulster Orchestra, conductor Vernon Handley Gluck Orfeo ed Euridice (excerpt) James Bowman (countertenor), La
Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, conductor Jean-Claude Maigoire
SOUNDING THE CENTURY