Les Musiciens De Saint-Julien

Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien stands apart from other early music groups in their focus on song and dance repertories, mostly those transmitted via oral tradition. They have focused on French music but have also played music from other countries. The group has recorded for the Alpha label over its entire two-decade career. In 2024, it made a foray into traditional repertory, backing founder François Lazarevitch on a recording of Mozart flute concertos. Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien was founded in 2005 by flutist François Lazarevitch, who also plays the bagpipes and has performed on that instrument frequently with the group. He took the name from that of St. Julien of Mans, the patron saint of a group of medieval fiddlers; the name, in the group's own words, "symbolizes a desire to give life to a direct and simple music, in connection with oral traditions, in a search for the spirit of the dance, natural musical phrasing and instrumental colors." Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien quickly attracted attention, releasing its debut album, Danses des Bergers, Danses des Loups, on Alpha in 2005. The group performed in significant French venues, including the Salle Cortot, the house of the French Senate at the Luxembourg Palace, and the Chabotterie at Saint-Sulpice in Montréverd. They have also performed abroad at the Maison Française in Washington, D.C., the Ciclo de Música Antigua in Mexico, and have held residencies at the Bach Academy of Arques-la-Bataille and the Baroque Festival of Pontoise. In 2018, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien began a two-year residency at the Festival de Lanvellec. The group's recordings for the Alpha label have been central to their reputation. Many of the label's releases have focused on music in social context, and it was thus a natural home for Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien. The series has continued to explore French vernacular traditions, sometimes encompassing music of other countries, as well, as heard on 2016's The High Road to Kilkenny. Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien have also explored the connections between popular dance music and concert traditions, issuing an album of Vivaldi concertos in 2017 and Purcell: Songs & Dances in 2019. After a pandemic pause, the group returned in 2023 with the album Beauté Barbaré, juxtaposing works by Telemann with their folk roots. In 2024, Les Musiciens de Saint-Julien returned with an album of Mozart flute concertos and the Concerto for flute and harp in C major, K. 299. ~ James Manheim, Rovi