What melodies echoed through the Palace of Versailles when music was inseparable from the opulent life of the court, the theater, the dances, and the daily rituals of the royal estate? On August 28 at Paliesius Manor, French harpsichordist Olivier Baumont—one of France’s most prominent early music performers and scholars—will invite you into this world. The program will transport listeners to 17th- and 18th-century France—a time when the harpsichord was among the most prominent instruments of courtly music, its sound taking deep root in French culture.

The evening will feature works by Jean-Henry d’Anglebert, François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Claude Balbastre, revealing the diverse stylistic traits of the harpsichord: from subtle ornamentation and elegant dance to theatricality and virtuosity. The program will be complemented by the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—a composer who visited Versailles at the mere age of eight, where he was introduced to the musical traditions of the French court. Thus, on August 28, we will not only paint a portrait of French music but also embark on a broader journey through an era where distinct musical cultures met and continually influenced one another.

The music of this era holds a special place in Olivier’s repertoire, while his discography boasts over sixty recordings, including works by François Couperin, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Jacques Duphly, and other French harpsichord masters. In 2014, he initiated a project to perform the complete harpsichord works of Johann Sebastian Bach, bringing together some twenty harpsichordists, and in 2018, he participated in an impressive program of all Domenico Scarlatti sonatas at the Radio France Montpellier festival in France.

Baumont is not limited to the concert stage—he is a longtime professor of harpsichord at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, having mentored numerous harpsichordists who actively perform today. He also writes books on music and its history, participates in radio and television broadcasts, and collaborates with theater and film creators.

“Les Plaisirs de Versailles” will invite you to hear how this world comes alive through the sound of the harpsichord: from the most delicate details to the theatricality of the palace and French elegance. It is an evening dedicated to the music that once resonated through Versailles, and to an artist who devotes his creative life to ensuring its history continues to resound today.