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Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) was a pioneer in the history of music, one of the first to bring sonatas and cantatas into the French repertoire, and the first woman in France to compose a performed opera. She explored and pushed further the possibilities of musical composition, as well as writing some of the most beautiful pieces of the Baroque era. She worked under the patronage of the most powerful figures of this Grand Siècle that saw the absolute reign of Louis XIV and the construction of his dreamed Versailles. And yet, there are still many elements of mystery and unknown in this composer's story. Kate Molleson invites you to (re)discover the extraordinary adventures of a gifted musician, with a soupçon of French flair and lots of gorgeous music.

In this fourth episode, we see how Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre is among the first to develop the sonata in French music, and how she portrays legendary heroines in her series of cantatas.

Sonata in A minor
from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695)
II. Allegro – Bemol
Ensemble La Rêveuse
Benjamin Perrot, director

Harpsichord Suite (No. 5) in D minor
from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707)
I. La Flamande
II. Double
Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord

Suite (No. 6) in G major
from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707)
Ensemble Amarillis
Héloïse Gaillard, director

Sonata No. 3 in F major
from Sonates pour le Violon et pour le Clavecin (1707)
II. Presto - Adagio
III. Presto
IV. Aria
V. Adagio
Ensemble La Rêveuse
Benjamin Perrot, director

Jonas (excerpts)
from Cantates Françaises, sur des Sujets Tirés de l'Écriture; Livre Premier (1708)
Isabelle Desrochers, soprano
Chantal Rémillard, baroque violin
Margaret Little, bass viol
Dorothéa Ventura, positive organ/harpsichord

Judith (excerpts)
from Cantates Françaises, sur des Sujets Tirés de l'Écriture; Livre Premier (1708)
Maïlys de Villoutreys, soprano)
Ensemble Amarillis
Héloïse Gaillard, director

Presented by Kate Molleson
Produced by Julien Rosa
A ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio Wales production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3