Closing your eyes while listening, you could easily imagine yourself in a gilt-edged salon, with Her Highness Mademoiselle Marie de Lorraine, Duchess of Guise, peer of France, princess of Joinville, hereditary seneschal of Champagne herself sitting not far from you, enjoying and approving every lovely note. Composed by Charpentier for Mlle de Guise’s court towards the end of her life, alongside the wonderful sense of luxury, beauty and proficiency, it is the intimacy of this music which is most exciting for us today.

Click here to read my full review on Bachtrack.

Her Highness Mademoiselle Marie de Lorraine, Duchess of Guise, peer of France, princess of Joinville, hereditary seneschal of Champagne: last tree standing of the House of Guise