Or (Light): Couperin & Vivaldi

Couperin, François, Vivaldi, Antonio

Wieder-Atherton, Sonia

Alpha 1203

For her new recording, entitled ‘Or’ (light), cellist Sonia Wieder Atherton has devised a two-part narrative, ‘a series of freeze frames, like incursions into time’: first, Couperin’s Les leçons de ténèbres or the Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah. Prophecies are created in the time before. Before destruction and tears: ‘We hear the prophet’s song of lamentation, although the possibility that this might not come to pass still exists.'

Then comes ‘our time’: ‘Vivaldi’s dramatic power brings us face to face with the present. He says ”It’s here now”.’ Sonia has chosen several excerpts from his operas and from two violin concertos. She transcribed most of the pieces in this programme for solo cello or two cellos, two voices that she plays herself. She also imagined bridges to other lights, those of Mahut’s percussion and Marius Atherton’s electric guitar and MS20 synthesiser.

Works:

•Couperin, F: Première leçon de ténèbres à une voix
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• Couperin, F: Troisième leçon de ténèbres à deux voix
•Vivaldi: Le jugement (After Farnace, RV 711, Gelido in ogni vena)
•Vivaldi: Comme une danse (After Tieteberga, RV 737, Sento in seno)
•Vivaldi: L’autre visage (After Il Giustino, RV 717, Vedro con mio diletto)
• Vivaldi: Sur les traces (After Concerto for Two Violins and Cello in G Minor, Op. 3, No. 2, RV 578a: II. Adagio)
• Vivaldi: L’enfant (After Violin Concerto No. 3 in F Major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno": II. Adagio molto)
•Vivaldi: Le jugement 2e version ou Le bruit du monde (After Farnace, Gelido in ogni vena)

CD x 1

Alpha

19.03.2026

3701624512036