At the Pleasure of Mazarin

A Cardinal who never took holy orders, Mazarin, né Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino, was born near Naples, grew up in Rome, and became Chief Minister of France. The most powerful advisor to Louis XIV was more fascinated by art than theology, importing innumerable Italian compositions and a fair number of Italian composers in service of the French state. His dedication to artistic splendor was a hallmark of his tenure and a gift to subsequent generations.

Native sons whom he championed include Luigi Rossi, Virgilio Mazzocchi, Francesco Cavalli and Giacomo Carissimi, and their work came to transform the music of France. Arias, cantatas, and operas by these Italian composers and more can be found to this day at the Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris, where many treasures of Mazarin’s collection still await a performance in our own time.

For program notes, sound clips, and more, click here.

The France à Cordes festival concludes with this CD release concert, which celebrates the new recording of At the Pleasure of Mazarin on the MV Cremona label.