The musical culture that Josephine de Beauharnais (1763-1814), Empress of the French and Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife, developed with her family and at court kept pace with fashion and even shaped the French musical taste of the period. Josephine organised weekly concerts at the Chateau de Malmaison, her preferred residence, that featured many of the most famous musicians in Paris and Europe. Informal musical soirees were also held on an almost daily basis. This recording presents excerpts from operas of the period transcribed for chamber performance, in which the most passionate emotions are expressed alongside nostalgic romances and alternate with instrumental works to recreate the spontaneity of a musical evening in Josephine’s salon. This original project offers music lovers an immersion in a musical universe that is largely unknown to audiences today.

Tracklist:

1. tait LA!
2. Hirondelle
3. Sonate Pour Forte Piano Op. 37 No. 1-Andante
4. Plaisir D’amour
5. Zingari in Fiera: Chi Vuol la Zingarella
6. Duo Pour Harpe Ou Forte Piano-Allegretto
7. Irato, Ou L’emport-J’ai de la Raison, J’aime la Sagesse
8. Zo-Romance
9. Sonate Pour la Harpe Op. 13 No. 1-Allegretto
10. Sonate Pour la Harpe Op. 13 No. 1-Romance
11. Vestale-O Nume Tutelar
12. Complainte D’hlose Au Paraclet
13. Sonate Pour Le Piano Forte Op. 1 No. 2-Allegro
14. Mort de Werther
15. Orage
16. Sonatina Pour la Harpe Op. 92 No. 2-Prlude Allegro
17. Sonatina Pour la Harpe Op. 92 No. 2-Allegro Maestoso
18. Sonatina Pour la Harpe Op. 92 No. 2-Romance
19. Arias (6) for Voice ; Piano “Composte Per la Regina D’olanda”-Che Chiedi, Che Brami
20. Huron-Monologue de Mademoiselle de Saint-Yves

UPC: 4250128524100
Label: Ramee
Release Date: 1.30.26
Format: CD