Les Talens Lyriques

The Roman Catholic liturgy for Holy Week underlines the symbolism of the darkness that represents Christ’s betrayal, trial and death. Les Talens Lyriques, renowned for its consummate mastery of French Baroque repertoire, probes the Leçons de Ténèbres (literally, the ‘Lessons of darkness’) of Charpentier and Couperin, outstanding examples of lamentations created for performance on the evenings of Holy Wednesday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Its programme also includes intensely expressive responsories from Charpentier’s Tenebrae services.