Maurice Bourbon
Choirmaster
Maurice Bourbon is the artistic director of the association La Chapelle des Flandres and heads its three vocal ensembles: Métamorphoses, a vocal ensemble of international soloists, Coeli et Terra, a high-level amateur chamber choir, and Biscantor! a vocal ensemble for young adults, created respectively in 1983, 1987 and 2005. His professional activity has always focused on analysis and research. First, in a first scientific career, as an engineer (Ecole des Mines de Paris) and as a researcher at the CNRS (PhD in sedimentology). Then, in his profession as a musician.
With Métamorphoses, Maurice Bourbon acquired in 1983 a tool for the interpretation of the masterpieces of the a cappella repertoire, by composers both illustrious (Gesualdo, Monteverdi, Bach) and less well known (Antoine de Bertrand). Through a rigorous analysis of the different workings of the music and thanks to the lyricism of his singers, he seeks to restore both the most complex geometries and a flamboyant harmony.
After Bach's a cappella motets (the only discographic interpretation of the genre), he found his favourite field with the masses of Josquin Desprez, of which he decided to undertake the complete work. The present CD is volume 5 of a total of ten planned.
With Biscantor! whose name evokes the dazzling Franco-Flemish virtuoso singers, professionals, often composers themselves - such as Josquin - and experienced in all the difficulties of vocal polyphony, Maurice Bourbon seeks to educate talented young polyphonic singers (18-28 years old), and then to train the most promising in the professionalism of vocal polyphony, and in its rigours. Biscantor! has thus lined up, alongside the experienced singers of Métamorphoses, three singers in the Petits Z'oiseaux mass (Maurice Bourbon) in 2009, six for Josquin and Rome 2, then three in the present volume.
Métamorphoses
Noémie Capron, Juliette de Massy, Irène Mayaffre, sopranos; Raphaël Mas, countertenor; Vincent Lièvre-Picard, Marcio Soarès, tenors; Maurice Bourbon, baritone; Enrico Bava, Philippe Roche, basses.
Conducted by Maurice Bourbon.
Biscantor!
Axelle Corteel, mezzo-soprano Clément Debieuvre, countertenor; Emmanuel Hasler, baritone.