Les Idées Heureuses,
baroque music at its best

Local musical group excels in the baroque style

By Luc Archambault

Les Idées Heureuses (happy or good ideas) is a musical group, founded by Geneviève Soly in 1987, devoted to baroque music. Bach, Teleman, Rameau, Haendel and Scarlatti are some of its most cherished sons.

But also Christoph Graupner, a relative unknown, who would probably be forgotten if not for the efforts of Madame Soly, who re-discovered his musical manuscripts at Darmstadt castle in Germany, and has started the ambitious project of bringing his music to contemporary ears. She has recorded, to this date, ten CDs devoted to Graupner on the Analekta label.

Geneviève Soly

So, this year as in the past, Les Idées Heureuses devotes its concerts to the baroque period. The first, on Tuesday, November 22, was centered on works for horns by Telemann and Graupner.

The second, on Thursday, December 8, will feature religious and profane works from the XVIIth century, heard in New France. It is entitled Christmas at Ville-Marie.

Then, on Sunday, January 29, the concert will present Bach’s cantatas – BWV 14, BWV 13, BWV 116.

On Good Friday, April 14, Couperin’s Concert de la Passion will air.

And, to conclude its 30th year, on Tuesday, May 16, the group will perform Languir d’Amour – French and Italian music of the XIVth century. What a season of musical discoveries!

Christoph Graupner would probably be forgotten if not for the efforts of Madame Soly, who re-discovered his musical manuscripts and has started the ambitious project of bringing his music to contemporary ears.

If one must pass judgment on the merits of this season based on the concert of November 22, then we shall expect a very high musical caliber. This concert, entitled À la chasse (To the Hunt), featured pieces for natural horns from both Telemann and Graupner. Yes, horns, as in hunting horns, thus the clothing of the two horn players (hunting vest and sports pants).

But what a magnificent discovery it was… glimmering music, pleasing sounds to the ear, and works from two geniuses from this specific era, who both composed pieces for a rarely showcased instrument… as well as a divine performance from Madame Soly on the harpsichord, a suite from Graupner… to make us quiver with delight even more!

The concerts are played at the Salle Bourgie of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Tickets can be bought at ideesheureuses.ca

Images: Robert Etcheverry