Les Arts Florissants with legendary founder and artistic director William Christie present Campra: Requiem & Miserere on PENTATONE, due for release in September 2025.
For Les Arts Florissants, one of the world’s most renowned Baroque ensembles, and artistic director William Christie this is a landmark release: the first complete recording of André Campra’s Requiem, paired with his profoundly moving Miserere. These works, filled with clarity, grace, and emotional power, offer a deeply personal and spiritual listening experience. Campra’s music speaks straight to the soul, with harmonies that are subtle, expressive, and timeless. Performed on period instruments at original French pitch and shaped by authentic ensemble forces, this recording is a masterclass in historically informed performance, true to Campra’s era, and brought vividly to life by musicians at the top of their craft.
“André Campra occupies a vital yet historically under-recognized place in the canon of Western sacred choral music. His sacred works — marked by elegance, emotional clarity, and spiritual depth — have long deserved wider appreciation. With this recording, I wish to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing rediscovery of his legacy.
This recording is also an expression of our commitment to historically informed performance. We use period instruments tuned to original French pitch and an ensemble size consistent with what Campra likely employed. These choices are not merely technical, but reflect a broader artistic philosophy: to honor the composer’s intentions with honesty and fidelity. Les Arts Florissants brings a distinctive sound shaped by a deep connection to both the musical and linguistic character of the French tradition — even the Latin, in its pronunciation, carries the imprint of that identity.
It is my hope that listeners will hear in this interpretation not only the beauty of Campra’s music, but also a renewed appreciation for its place within the sacred repertoire — where it belongs not on the margins, but at the heart.
William Christie
(excerpted from booklet)
A powerful listening experience and a milestone debut for Les Arts Florissants and William Christie on PENTATONE, this album is an essential addition to any collection of great sacred choral works.
DIGITAL RELEASE DATE: 5th September 2025
PHYSICAL RELEASE DATE: September 2025
