Couperin (1): La Visionaire (performed by Rebecca Pechefsky)

Harpsichordist Rebecca Pechefsky performs François Couperin's "La Visionaire," an overture opening his 25th Ordre (Paris, 1730), in New York City's historic Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum, built in 1765. This first movement of the suite is filmed in the Octagon Room, where Ms. Pechefsky and Brooklyn Baroque perform in a yearly concert series, presenting 18th-century music in an 18th-century room. George Washington slept directly above the Octagon Room during one of his campaigns in 1776.

This is the first of five movements; the others have been posted on the Quill Classics YouTube channel.

Produced for Quill Classics by Overtone Films, LLC
Producer and Director: Hilan Warshaw
Videographer: Zach Kuperstein
Video Editor: Hilan Warshaw
Audio Engineer: Erik Ryding
Camera Assistant: Corey Stambler
Recorded at the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum
New York, NY, January 24, 2011

Harpsichord: Yves Beaupré (Montreal, 2010), after Hemsch and Blanchet

Thanks to the Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum and Kenneth Moss, its director, for use of these historic rooms for this video recording

© 2011 Quill Classics

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Eliza Jumel

[peteacher52]

Beautiful full sounding harpsichord, perfectly matched to the acoustics by the sound engineer. When Rebecca walked away at the end, I was still waiting for more, hoping that somehow an encore would mysteriously materialise through the electronic mists! The lady is g..o..o..d!

Peter, NZ.

[QuillClassics]

@peteacher52 Thanks so much for the kind words. The rest of the suite, by the way, is also posted on the Quill Classics channel, so there is a kind of "encore" to the opening piece!

[QuillClassics]

Many thanks for the comments!

[fleurypm]

An outstanding piece and and outstanding interpretation. Mrs Pechefsky has taken the perfect tempo. Obviously she has taking seriously the indications (gravement et marqué) given by Couperin. His great passacaille is generally considered as his masterpiece. I doubt it after listening that piece. Its " grandeur ", its rhythmical variety and its joyful second part make it a serious contender.

[larryraiken]

Very nice, Hilan. I love the shifts of attention -- all very smooth and in line with the music and the surroundings. It made me think of the shifts of attention one often has when listening -- the face, the keys, the surroundings -- . Thanks



[clementmatchett]

Yes, I agree with Sandy, great on both counts - thanks!

[RexBenincasa]

Great video! Beautifully performed and nicely filmed. Your best yet!

[sandyhackney]

Very elegant presentation, and, of course, very elegant playing! Thank you.