Rousset, Christophe

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Rousset, Christophe

Rousset, Christophe , remarkable French harpsichordist and esteemed conductor; b. Avignon, April 12, 1961. Following training with André Raynaud and Huguette Dreyfus at the Schola Cantorum in Paris, he was a student of Kenneth Gilbert before completing his studies with Bob van Asperen (harpsichord), the Kuijken brothers and Lucy van Dael (chamber music), and Leonhardt (interpretation) at the Royal Cons. of Music at The Hague (soloist diploma, 1983). In 1983 he took 1st prize in the Bruges harpsichord competition, and then launched a global career. From 1992 he also was active with his own Les Talens Lyriques ensemble. In 1999 he was a guest conductor of the N.Y. Collegium Vocal Ensemble and Orch. Rousset has won critical accolades for his extraordinary command of the harpsichord repertory. He particularly excells in the music of the French school, giving particularly outstanding performances of Couperin and Rameau.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire