Jeux de Dames: A portrait of Love – concert by Ensemble Amarillis

François Couperin’s 1713 preface to his First Book of Harpsichord Pieces places his music under the sign of portraiture: each piece, he explains, is inspired by a specific object, and its title reflects the idea he sought to evoke. These titles, almost all feminine, brief, and suggestive, create a poetic world populated by figures such as La Muse victorieuse or La Voluptueuse. Flautist Héloïse Gaillard, Eleanor Lewis on the bass viol and harpsichordist Jeanne Jourquin build on this feminine universe with a program conceived as a “jeu de dames,” using the intimate timbre of flute and oboe to highlight Couperin’s character pieces alongside works by Philidor, Visée, and Gaultier de Marseille.  

The program’s second half highlights Couperin’s ninth concert, his Ritratto dell’amore. Unlike his harpsichord pieces, the dance suites he performed privately for Louis XIV on Sundays at Versailles left almost no trace beyond the composer’s own testimony. The concert reveals a refined and introspective style that frames love in subtly feminized terms. As the program unfolds, additional pieces evoke emotional nuance, culminating in the enigmatic Mistérieuse, written late in Couperin’s life as a kind of summation. Ultimately, Couperin leads us back to our own inner landscape, offering not a portrait of love alone, but a portrait of ourselves. 

Amarillis, Héloïse Gaillard’s ensemble, is acclaimed for its 23 recordings and international touring. Supported by major cultural institutions, Amarillis explores lesser-known Baroque repertoire and creates original interdisciplinary projects blending music with theatre, dance, jazz, or contemporary creation. Committed to transmission, the ensemble launched in 2023 the international academy Les Chants d’Ulysse with Patricia Petibon.  

The Institut Francais d’Ecosse will proudly present their first Scottish performance as part of the Baroque Music Festival 2026. Heloise Gaillard, Jeanne Jourquin and Eleanor Lewis will perform works by Anne Danican Philidor, Francois Couperin, Gaultier de Marseille, Robert de Visée, Jacques Duphly and Michel De La Barre. 

Our Festival Pass gives you access to the five concerts of the Baroque Music Festival in Edinburgh