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With around a hundred students and 25 renowned artists and teachers – pioneers or heirs to the ‘Baroque revolution’ – the Department of Historical Music Practices trains performers on period instruments.
With a view to fostering an informed approach to performance, alongside instrument lessons (harpsichord, pianoforte, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, historical clarinet, historical bassoon, natural horn, lutes and theorbo, Baroque violin and viola, Baroque cello, historical double bass and viola da gamba), students also study historical sources and all aspects of historically informed performance (treatises, Baroque dance, chords and temperaments, etc.).
Career development is at the heart of the department’s priorities. Each year, around ten orchestral productions enable performers to refine their craft under the baton of leading international conductors committed to passing on their art. These opportunities for in-depth dialogue with some of the leading figures on the international Baroque scene (Emmanuelle Haïm, William Christie, Christophe Rousset, Masaaki Suzuki, Sigiswald Kuijken, as well as conductors from the next generation such as Raphael Pichon, Damien Guillon, Sébastien Daucé, Stephan MacLeod and Lionel Meunier, represent an immense opportunity, both artistically and in terms of professional networking.
Training well-rounded artists also means learning to play together.
Consequently, the emphasis is placed on regular chamber music practice and collaborative work. Drawing on the Conservatoire’s vibrant artistic atmosphere, the Department of Historical Music Practices works in close collaboration with all other departments, particularly the voice department, whose students take part in numerous Baroque and classical concerts.
Numerous partnerships between institutions (Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, Maitrise Notre Dame de Paris) or with the leading concert halls and festivals offer students a wealth of opportunities to perform in professional settings.
Research is an integral part of the curriculum, preparing performers for a multifaceted professional life, open to a wide variety of forms of expression.
Classical and pre-Romantic disciplines are becoming increasingly important each year, serving as a natural link between the past and the present. A wide range of options is available, covering repertoires from all eras and styles, enabling each student to forge their own path whilst developing a critical perspective on their role as an artist in tomorrow’s society.
