The Sleep of Ulysses

Cantatatas and sonatas from Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre

French cantatas, which are like miniature operas, give pride of place to dramatic elements like storms, unleashed elements, fury and passion. The sleep of Uylysse and the passage of the Red Sea (about a subjet taken from The "Writing") were famous for their storms.

The French harpsichordist Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre (1665 – 1729) was one of those pioneer composers who, like François Couperin (1668 –1733) and Jean-Féry Rebel (1666-1747), became interested the Italian cantatas and sonatas, musical forms that were resolutely modern but not trendy in French musical circles of the time. Of these she produced an innovative and accomplished interpretation.

  • Maïlys de Villoutreys, soprano
  • Stéphan Dudermel, violin
  • Florence Bolton, viola da gamba
  • Benjamin Perrot, theorbo
  • Brice Sailly, harpsichord


Mailys de Villoutreys – photograph Philippe Genestier