Christophe Rousset

Christophe Rousset (Aix-en-Provence, 12 April 1961) is a French harpsichordist and conductor.

Rousset developed a passion for Baroque music at a very young age. He studied harpsichord in Paris with Huguette Dreyfus, and subsequently in The Hague with Bob van Asperen. In 1983 he won the prestigious First Prize at the international harpsichord competition as part of the Festival Oude Muziek in Brugge.

He then began his career as a professional performer and conductor. He started first with the ensemble Les Arts Florissants and with Il Seminario Musicale, before founding his own ensemble in 1991, Les Talens Lyriques.

Rousset embarked on a voyage of discovery through European music of the 17th and 18th centuries (operas, cantatas, oratorios, sonatas, symphonies, concertos). During his search he discovered unpublished scores (Antigona by Traetta, La capricciosa corretta by Martín y Soler, Armida abbandonata by Jommelli). In addition, he also performs popular works.

As a conductor and soloist, Rousset is a regular at numerous festivals and major concert halls: Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Théâtre du Châtelet, Théâtre du Capitole, De Nederlandse Opera, Opéra de Lausanne, Barbican Centre, etc.

In addition to his activities as conductor of Les Talens Lyriques, he performs as a harpsichordist during international tours. In doing so, he frequently makes use of authentic instruments.