Françoise Lasserre,conductor
Akadêmia (France)
The Vocal Academy of India
Sunit Tandon, narrator
Justin McCarthy, piano
Irina Biryukova, piano
In a programme of Schumann: Zigeunerleben Op. 29 No. 3, Mondnacht (from Liederkreis) Op. 39 No. 5; Der Traum Op. 146 No. 3; Brahms: Ständchen Op. 106 No. 1, Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 52 (extracts), In stiller Nacht WoO. 34 No. 8, Nächtens Op. 112a No. 2, Wiegenlied Op. 49 No. 4, Zigeunerlieder Op. 103 (extracts); Schubert: Ständchen, Der Doppelgänger (from Schwanengesang) D 957, Der Gondelfahrer D 809, Ständchen D 920, Der Tod und das Mädchen D 531, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Allnächtlich im Traume seh’ ich dich Op. 86 No. 4, Abendlied Op. 77 No. 11, Nachtlied Op. 60 No. 6; Strauss: Die Nacht Op. 10 No. 3; Mozart: Abendempfindung K 523
Akadêmia is a French early music ensemble founded in 1986 by Françoise Lasserre. The initial group of singers were formed from members of Philippe Herreweghe’s Chapelle Royale. The ensemble are frequent performers at France’s major early music festivals such as the Ambronay Festival. Several of the groups recordings have been made in cooperation with La Fenice directed by Jean Tubéry.
The Ensemble Akadêmia’s primary goal is to present both major and unknown vocal and instrumental works of the 17th century. Led by director Françoise Lasserre, the ensemble frequently performs the pieces of composer Heinrich Schütz, having already recorded five of his works. Apart from Schütz, Lasserre also has shown a great interest in the works of Monteverdi. Akadêmia has an ongoing commitment to the discovery and nurturing of young vocal and instrumental talents.
Over the past few years, Akadêmia has developed outreach programmes aiming at three principal publics: spectators, amateur musicians and children.
