Le Roi Danse (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

- On Hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) format, presented in full 5.1 surround sound! PLAYABLE ON ANY CD SYSTEM -

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack performed by Musica Antiqua Köln and Reinhard Goebel

- Film Synopsis: Louis, heir to the throne in a troubled kingdom, is a shy young man of 14 when the musician Jean-Baptiste Lully makes an entry into the royal court and recognises the dauphin's talent for dance.

With brilliant artistry Lully composes ballets that magnify and glorify Louis's image. The young monarch develops self-confidence and outwits the hostile forces bent on depriving him of his rightful authority.

Lully and his colleague Molière are the magical masters of this grandiose state ballet. Lully gives it music and soul, Molière bring words and ideas. Yet both will be undone.

- Historical Overview: In 1664 Louis XIV invited Molière and Lully to work together. The result was an astonishing collaboration between these three men that produced Les Amants magnifiques, Le Bourgeois gentilhomme and a number of other examples of the highly specific genre of comédie-ballet.

Lully's Ballet de la nuit of 1653 marked the composer's début at court. After appearing in this work, Louis danced the title roles in almost all the composer's later ballets, notably in Alcidiane and Xerxes (the latter to mark his marriage in 1661).

- Other featured composers: Le Roi danse also features composers whose presence and musical activities at Versailles impinged on those of Louis, Lully and Molière.

Jacques Cordier was undoubtedly the most brilliant violinist of his age, who wrote numerous ballet scores, and one of his dances, "La Bocanne", was hugely popular.

Robert Cambert was a rival to Lully. He was clearly a talented composer, judging from his immensely successful pastoral Pomone.

Michel Lambert was an admirable singer and the composer of numerous airs de cour which, brilliant and tender by turn, include Ombre de mon amant. Lambert became Lully's father-in-law in 1662.