Description
March 22 at Paliesius Manor – the very first performance in the Baltic States by the legendary singer and countertenor Gérard Lesne alongside the baroque ensemble “Le Concert Universel”!
The countertenor is an incredibly rare voice type, the highest of the male operatic voices. Moreover, G. Lesne is blessed with a remarkable instrument: a strikingly bright upper register and a powerful lower register that possesses an extraordinary softness—a quality many singers attain only after long years of tireless devotion. Though his musical journey began as a rock singer, G. Lesne stands today as one of the world’s most vital performers of early music. He is a highly anticipated guest in the most illustrious halls, the creator of over 70 widely acclaimed and award-winning albums, and a recipient of the prestigious French honor of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. Together with the ensemble “Le Concert Universel,” he has prepared an exceptional program for the Paliesius audience, and we warmly invite you to experience this unmissable performance!
The program crafted by the renowned countertenor Gérard Lesne and the ensemble “Le Concert Universel” was born from the joy of an encounter—between people and between arts. It is conceived as a book whose every turned page awakens wonder, allowing us to discover the quintessence of art that resides at the very center of human life. This music is a gentle return to the essential, a shared moment of simple beauty and creative energy.
You will hear a voice that touches the absolute depths of our being—vibrations echoing through pages woven from vocal and instrumental pieces. It is a thread whose inner dynamic never breaks, flowing seamlessly between depth, meditation, and joy. Like the thread of life itself, this carefully curated program will sweep you into an evening full of emotion and musical brilliance, as Gérard Lesne and the ensemble “Le Concert Universel” delicately weave individual sounds into a unified, breathtaking melody.
Countertenor Gérard Lesne has released more than 70 recordings (30 of them with his own ensemble, “Il Seminario Musicale”), earned 3 “Victoires de la Musique Classique” awards, and performed on the finest international stages, standing as one of the most highly esteemed figures in the music world. A self-taught musician with a rich background spanning various musical styles—including jazz, pop-rock, and electronic music—he has forged a brilliant career in the realm of early music. Yet his mission extends far beyond the mere interpretation of works. To him, being an artist means being a mediator, almost a shaman.
The professional baroque ensemble “Le Concert Universel” was founded in 2017 by violinist Juliette Roumailhac. It brings together performers who concertize with the most prestigious ensembles, widely recognized for their virtuosity, subtlety, and profoundly deep interpretations of works on period instruments.
The ensemble derives its name and artistic identity from a humanist concept, beautifully encapsulated in an 18th-century tale. The story speaks of all the birds of the world attempting to sing in unison under the direction of a Neapolitan nightingale—a fruitless effort that resulted only in a terrible cacophony. Then, another bird, more inclined toward compromise, suggested that each should sing naturally in its own tone. From this coexistence was born the “grand universal concert,” where “specific dissonances make up the harmony of the whole.”
The ensemble “Le Concert Universel” has released a CD dedicated to Jean-Marie Leclair (1697–1764) (“Claves”), thoughtfully conceived as a portrait of this distinguished violinist, dancer, composer, and eminent artist.
Concert partner:
Information partner:
Programme
Unknown Portuguese author – „Senhora del mundo“
Maurizio Cazzati – Passacaglia (from „Trattenimenti per camera“)
Francesco Cavalli – „Delizie contente“ (from the opera „Il Giasone“)
Georg Friedrich Händel –
Sinfonia (from the opera „King Arthur“)
Symphony and aria „Cara Sposa, amante cara“ (from the opera „Rinaldo“)
Improvisation (vocals, archlute)
Henry Purcell – „Music for a while“
Nicola Matteis – „Aria amorosa“
Georg Friedrich Händel – „Ombra mai fù“ (from the opera „Xerxes“)
Antonio Vivaldi – „La Follia“ for two violins and harpsichord
Unknown author – „Ave nobilis“ (from the collection „Carmina Burana“)
Alessandro Stradella –
Aria „Se pegno gradito voi siete di morte“
Recitative „Godete pur, godete“
Aria „Io per me“
(from the oratorio „San Giovanni Battista“)
Marc-Antoine Charpentier – „Il faut aimer, c’est un mal nécessaire“
Jean-Baptiste Lully – Aria „Ô tranquille Sommeil, que vous êtes charmant!“ (from the opera „Persée“)
Henry Purcell – „Air du froid“ (from the opera „King Arthur“)
Recommendations for this concert
Dinner must be ordered in advance, at least 24 hours prior to the concert.
We invite you to order beverages to accompany your meal separately on site.
Spend March 22 at Paliesius Manor like a true aristocrat! We invite you to the wine cellar to enjoy one of the most luxurious of beverages: royal champagne. This tasting will set a beautiful mood for the evening’s concert, “Kvintesencija,” where the beauty of early music will be brought to life by Gérard Lesne, one of the world’s most renowned countertenors, alongside the baroque ensemble “Le Concert Universel.”
Why is champagne held in such high esteem? First and foremost, this sparkling wine is crafted exclusively in the Champagne region, where the chalk-rich soil imparts a smooth, rich flavor to the grapes. Its production is also governed by a multitude of strict rules: champagne must be aged in a cellar for a minimum of fifteen months, with top-tier champagnes resting for a full three years. Champagne can be crafted by blending different grapes from various subregions, or from a single grape variety—sometimes even from one specific vineyard.
During the tasting, we will sample five distinct champagnes from different champagne houses. An experienced wine connoisseur will guide you on this journey of flavor and discovery. Uncover the mysterious world of champagne!
Trains to Ignalina from Vilnius (and other cities) run several times a day, offering a comfortable and eco-friendly journey.
Ticket prices and schedules can be found HERE
We can arrange a comfortable transfer from Ignalina to Paliesius Manor and back.
Contact us: email info@paliesiausdvaras.lt, phone: +370 626 82 760, and we will help you reach Paliesius Manor!
P.S. For the transfer service, please contact us no later than 3 business days before your arrival date.
Nestled in the icehouse of Paliesius Manor, the Wild Geese shop holds hidden stories from all over the world… We invite you to discover them! And if you cannot visit the manor just yet, but are already very curious to see them, take a look around our online store.
The bakery in Paliesius Manor is not large, but everything here is baked with love. We source flour for our pastries, cakes, and bread from local farmers, striving to use the finest local ingredients and honoring authentic recipes. Our baked goods will delight both those with a sweet tooth and those with the most discerning palate.
Before the concert, we invite you to visit the exclusive Paliesius Manor wine cellar.
We invite you to register by email: info@paliesiausdvaras.lt, Tel.: +370 626 82 760
The Manor cellar houses over 200 varieties of select French wines.
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