Les Idées heureuses: A Musical Feast at the Court of Versailles

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At the end of November, Les Idées heureuses welcomes a distinguished guest to Montreal: conductor and baroque music historian Hervé Niquet. In a “two-in-one” format as refined as a haute-cuisine dish, audiences will be treated to two events centred on the theme of the table—a veritable feast for the ears in the era of the Grand Siècle. The project revolves around the tercentenary of Michel-Richard de Lalande and his famous Symphonies pour les soupers du Roy, instrumental works composed to accompany royal dinners at the court of Louis XIV. First a fundraising event, then a playful and theatrical concert that will showcase the talents of Niquet—conductor, but also chef!

Niquet distinguished himself early on with his iconoclastic temperament; where others cultivate reverence, he insists on vitality. His recordings—from Lully to Boismortier, from Campra to Purcell—are characterized by jubilant energy and an almost gustatory attention to sonic detail. He advocates a “culinary” approach to music: balancing, seasoning, tasting, without ever freezing it in the museum of the past.

The first event takes place on Nov. 19, with a benefit dinner in the beautiful Louis-Joseph Forget residence in Montreal—living room, dining room, 18th-century ambience, a setting conducive to putting everyday life on hold and savouring the moment. Twenty-five guests will have the unique opportunity to see Niquet swap his baton for a cooking pot; the chef will prepare the meal himself, while musical interludes will be provided by soprano Catherine St-Arnaud, violinist Olivier Brault, and harpsichordist Dorothéa Ventura. Far from artifice, this is an opportunity to relive the spirit of France’s Grand Siècle. Historian Emmanuel Nivon sheds light on the material culture of New France, adding a heritage dimension to the dinner.

Then, on Nov. 25, a concert featuring 17 musicians alongside Niquet and actor and director Jean-Philippe Desrousseaux. Lalande’s Symphonies pour les soupers du Roy are not simply instrumental suites; they constitute a veritable musical menu in which trumpets, oboes, and strings follow one another like orchestral starters, main courses, and desserts. The audience is invited to experience a rehearsal at the composer’s home on the eve of a concert at the court of Louis XIV: simulated conversations, exchanges between the conductor Lalande (Niquet) and his cook (Desrousseaux) who brings him his meal; the arrival of the mail bringing news and gossip—enough to experience the murmur of an era and the thrill of court entertainment.

In addition to these two events, Niquet will offer a master class at McGill University’s Early Music Department, sharing his knowledge of 17th- and 18th-century French music and helping to pass on to young musicians the art of “savouring” this repertoire. This triple combination—concert, meal, teaching—gives the French conductor’s visit exceptional significance.