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With around a hundred students and 25 renowned artists and teachers, pioneers or heirs to the "baroque revolution", the early music department trains performers in historical instruments.
In addition to instrumental lessons (harpsichord, fortepiano, baroque flute, early oboe, historical clarinet, early bassoon, natural horn, lutes and theorbo, baroque violin, baroque cello, historical double bass and viola da gamba), students study historical sources - treatises - and original musical sources.
Professional integration is one of the department's top priorities. Every year, ten or so orchestral productions enable students to perfect their skills under the direction of the greatest international conductors, all keen to pass on their art. These opportunities for in-depth dialogue with some of the leading figures on the international baroque scene (Emmanuelle Haim, William Christie, Christophe Rousset, Masaaki Suzuki, Sigiswald Kuijken, as well as conductors of the next generation such as Raphael Pichon, Damien Guillon, Sebastien Daucé, Stephan MacLeod and Lionel Meunier) are a real opportunity, particularly in terms of networking.
Training complete artists also means learning to play together. So the emphasis is on regular chamber music practice and group work. As part of the Conservatoire's vibrant artistic scene, the Early Music department works closely with all the other departments, especially the vocal disciplines. Indeed, vocal practice is a major focus, as demonstrated by the many concerts given by male and female singers. The sound professions also enable performers to benefit from professional-quality recordings. Not to mention the multitude of cross-disciplinary projects, both within the Conservatoire and beyond its walls. One example is the partnership with the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, which gives rise to a major project every year, regularly joined by the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles and the Maitrise de Notre Dame. Numerous partnerships with leading concert halls and festivals provide students with a wide range of opportunities to perform under professional conditions.
Research plays an important part in the curriculum, preparing performers for a multifaceted professional life that is open to a wide variety of forms of expression. Classical and pre-romantic disciplines take on greater importance each year, providing a natural link between the ancient and the modern. A wide choice of options is offered, covering repertoires from all periods and styles, to enable each student to forge his or her own path, as well as a critical view of his or her role as an artist in tomorrow's society.
The department also offers instrumentalists in the classical and contemporary instrumental disciplines an introduction to historical instruments, which can help them in their applications to the competitive entrance examinations for the main disciplines.
