Sunday, July 26 – 9:00 p.m. / Valloire Church
Anna Giraud, Vivaldi's Prima Donna
by Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu, conducted by Franck-Emmanuel Comte
The daughter of a French wigmaker living in Mantua, mezzo-soprano Anna Giraud met Antonio Vivaldi in that same city. The young woman and the musician became close; he gave her lessons, which continued in Venice at the Ospedale della Pietà. Captivated by the woman who would become one of the leading prima donnas of La Serenissima, the “Red Priest” composed no fewer than a dozen of his leading roles for Anna. “L’Anima del Prete Rosso, ” as the Venetians nicknamed her, would thus become the prima donna of major works such as Griselda, Orlando Furioso (Alcina), and Bajazet…
Although she did not display the virtuosity of the great castrati, she was renowned for her many qualities: expressive singing, a range that was particularly suited to the lower register, the charisma and charm of her striking appearance, and above all, a proven talent as an actress that earned her praise from Goldoni. The era will also be remembered for the air of mystery and scandal that surrounded the supposed romantic relationship between the master and his muse…
Programme
Works by Vivaldi.
Cast
Blandine de Sansal, mezzo-soprano
Franck-Emmanuel Comte, harpsichord & conductor
Reynier Guerrero, violin
André Costa, violin
Martyna Grabowska, viola
Aude Walker-Viry, cello
Nicolas Janot, double bass
Morgan Marquié, theorbo
The Hostel Dieu Concert
Founded in 1992 by Franck-Emmanuel Comte, Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu is a leading ensemble on the French Baroque scene. The ensemble is distinguished by its sensitive and dynamic interpretation of the 18th-century vocal and instrumental repertoire, grounded in a rigorous historical and philological approach.
The ensemble places particular emphasis on the Baroque manuscripts preserved in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, highlighting the close ties between Lyon and Italy. Committed to fostering a dialogue between Baroque music and the present day, it also develops interdisciplinary projects that blend different aesthetics and cultures.
Sharing and passing on knowledge are central to his creative work, which is complemented by numerous outreach initiatives. Le Concert de l’Hostel Dieu has given more than 1,700 concerts in France and abroad, and its recordings have been widely praised by the music press.
Blandine de Sansal – mezzo-soprano
A graduate of the École Normale de Musique de Paris, Blandine de Sansal won First Prize at the 2022 Froville International Baroque Singing Competition, as well as the Audience Prize. Since then, she has performed a wide-ranging repertoire of sacred music under the direction of Sébastien Daucé, Damien Guillon, Paul Agnew, Raphaël Pichon, Bertrand Cuiller, Stéphane Fuget, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas, Gaétan Jarry, Franck-Emmanuel Comte, and Stefan Plewniak. Among her most recent roles is that of Orpheus in Gluck’s opera.
Franck-Emmanuel Comte – harpsichord and conductor
A conductor and harpsichordist specializing in the Baroque and Classical repertoire on period instruments, Franck-Emmanuel Comte is committed to sharing his passion with as many people as possible. After studying at the CNSMD in Lyon, he quickly gained a reputation that extends beyond national borders.
Passionate about both the Baroque repertoire and interdisciplinary projects, he collaborated with choreographer Mourad Merzouki to create the ballet *Folia*, which was a resounding success. He has recorded some twenty albums, including *The Ghosts of Hamlet*, which received widespread acclaim from the international press.
Franck-Emmanuel Comte also serves as artistic director of La Trinité in Lyon, the J.S. Bach International Music Center in Saint-Donat, and the Mont-Blanc Region Baroque Festival.
The projects of the Concert de l’Hostel Dieu are supported by the City of Lyon, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, the DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the National Music Center, SPEDIDAM, ADAMI, and the CPPF.