| Biography | Formed in the summer of 2003 by François-Xavier Roth, Les Siècles comprises outstanding young players pooled from the very finest French ensembles. Roths founding ambition was for his orchestra to offer a new approach, not only to repertoire but also to the nature of the concert form.
With a vast period-instrument collection at its disposal, spanning the baroque, classical, romantic and modern eras, the orchestras repertoire is notably wide in range. Les Siècles is one of a small number of ensembles to employ period and modern instruments, playing each repertoire on appropriate instruments. Its flexible and historically informed work delivers a unique strand of creative programming.
François-Xavier Roth and the musicians of Les Siècles have made a distinctive mark at home and abroad, presenting an orchestra for the 21st century. They have given well over 200 performances in France alone, including regular performances in Paris (Cité de la Musique, Théâtre du Châtelet, Salle Gaveau, Opéra Comique) and appearances at leading festivals throughout France. In addition to its work in France, Les Siècles is increasingly visible on the international scene. Its global profile has been magnified in recent seasons with concerts in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, London, Germany, Portugal, Italy and Japan.
Their latest disc with Stravinskys Firebird has received great critical acclaim in the international press: Edison Klassiek Prize 2012 in Netherlands, Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, Disc of the week in the Sunday Times, Gramophone Choice, Record of the year 2011 in the Times, Editors choice in the BBC music Magazin, 5 stars in Classica le Monde de la Musique, Musique, Best existing recording of The Firebird in Le Jardin des Critiques on France Musique.
Les Siècles are also the creator and the main feature of the TV show « Presto » which has been broadcast regularly on France 2 since 2007. Theyve recently created their own record Label « Les Siècles Live » in partnership with Musicales Actes Sud. Theyve already released five recordings in this collection: La Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz, the Symphonie n°3 avec orgue by Saint-Saëns, Trames 2, 4 & 8 by Martin Matalon, The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky, the Concerto for piano of Théodore Dubois, the Dante Symphony by Franz Liszt and La Mer and the Première Suite (world premiere) by Claude Debussy. |