Founder of Les Talens Lyriques and internationally renowned harpsichordist, Christophe Rousset is driven by a passion for opera and the rediscovery of Europe’s musical heritage. Trained at the Schola Cantorum in Paris with Huguette Dreyfus and at The Hague Conservatory with Bob van Asperen—winning First Prize at the Bruges Harpsichord Competition at 22—he founded Les Talens Lyriques in 1991, establishing himself as a major interpreter of Baroque, Classical, and early Romantic repertoire.
Rousset performs regularly across Europe and internationally with Les Talens Lyriques, appearing at leading venues such as the Paris Opera, Opéra-Comique, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Dutch National Opera, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vienna State Opera, La Monnaie, Wigmore Hall, Teatro alla Scala, and on tours to the Americas, Oceania, and beyond. As a soloist, he records and performs on exceptional historical instruments, with benchmark interpretations of Couperin, Rameau, d’Anglebert, Royer, Duphly, Forqueray, Scarlatti, Balbastre, and J. S. Bach’s complete keyboard works.
A dedicated educator, he teaches masterclasses and academies at major institutions including the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP), Ambronay, Fondation Royaumont, Opera Studio Ghent, Accademia Chigiana, Montisi’s Piccola Accademia, and the Britten-Pears Orchestra. He is also highly active as a guest conductor, appearing at the Liceu Barcelona, San Carlo Naples, La Scala Milan, Royal Opera House London, the Spanish National Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, OAE, Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, and more.
Rousset pursues musicological research and writing, publishing critical editions and monographs on Rameau (2007) and François Couperin (2016), as well as a widely acclaimed book of interviews with Camille de Rijck (2017). His recent recordings—including The Art of Fugue (Aparté, 2023), praised for its brilliance, the digital reissue of François Couperin’s complete harpsichord works (2024), and Complete Toccatas (2024)—reinforce his reputation as a leading interpreter.
Recent releases include Portraits (MarchVivo), In Nativitatem with the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra (Soli Deo Gloria), and Salieri’s Cublai, gran Kan de’Tartari with Les Talens Lyriques (Aparté).
Christophe Rousset is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, Officer of the National Order of Merit, and winner of the 2024 Händel Prize.
