Christophe Rousset, founder of the ensemble Les Talens Lyriques and internationally renowned harpsichordist, is one of the leading figures in historical performance practice. As a musician and conductor, he is particularly dedicated to the opera repertoire and the rediscovery of European musical heritage. He studied harpsichord at the Schola Cantorum in Paris with Huguette Dreyfus and continued his training at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague with Bob van Asperen. At the age of 22, he won First Prize at the International Harpsichord Competition in Bruges. In 1991, he founded Les Talens Lyriques. With his ensemble, he regularly appears at leading opera houses and concert halls in Europe, including the Opéra national de Paris, the Opéra-Comique, the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, De Nationale Opera in Amsterdam, the Theater an der Wien, the Vienna State Opera, La Monnaie in Brussels, the Barbican Centre in London, and Teatro alla Scala in Milan. International tours have also taken him to Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, and the USA. In addition to his work as a conductor, he is active as a harpsichordist and chamber musician. His recordings of works by, among others, François Couperin, Rameau, Scarlatti, and Johann Sebastian Bach are considered reference recordings. He is also a sought-after educator and teaches at renowned institutions and academies. As a guest conductor, Christophe Rousset collaborates with major opera houses and orchestras. Furthermore, he is active as a musicologist and author, having published monographs on Rameau and François Couperin. Christophe Rousset is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Commandeur of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite. In 2024, he was awarded the Handel Prize by the city of Halle.
