Messe de Monsieur de Mauroy

Continuing his personal exploration of Charpentier's work, Hervé Niquet here rescues an almost unknown mass by the great composer. The Mass of Monsieur de Mauroy is not only the longest, but also the most beautiful of all the masses to flow from his pen. Charpentier's inspiration reaches sublime heights and the emotions which are provoked in the listener by these pages are of an unparalleled order.

For this extraordinary recording, we have been able to count on the participation of one of the greatest organists in the world: Michel Chapuis. Following Charpentier's own indications, Chapuis "improvises" on the fantastic historic organ of the Abbey of Saint-Michel en Thiérache, submerging us in the "grand manner" of the century of Louis XIV.

It has been our wish to link to this CD the work of the French cartographer Nicolas de Fer; among other images, we have chosen a series of views of the Hôtel des Invalides of Paris since the dedicatee of this mass, Monsieur de Mauroy, was with all probability the prior of the Fathers of this Mission.

This Mass of Monsieur de Mauroy is a work of great importance in the repertoire which Hervé Niquet habitually offers in concert. It will be heard on stages around the world during 2002 and 2003.