The fruit of passionately commited research exploring mainly pre-baroque and baroque repertoire, the ensemble, formed in 2015 at the initiative of lutenist Albane Imbs, has a permanent core of four women musicians, with guest artists according to the nature of each project.
Les Kapsber’girls look for new approaches to the interpretation of historic sources. Drawing their inspiration from traditional repertoire, the four musicians cast a lateral-thinking look on the works of the 17th and 18th centuries, bridging periods in new and unexpected ways, and having fun with a diversity of genres. They harness the energy and vitality of popular music, and have a restless enthusiasiasm for seeking out the new in the music of past ages.
Their name? A nod in the direction of one of the most celebrated Italian composers of the early 17th century, Hieronymus Kapsberger (1580-1651), to whom they paid honour in their first disc, Che fai tù? (2020), whose many awards included a Diapason d’Or, a ffff by Télérama and a Joker Découverte from Crescendo Magazine.
Their second album dedicated to French ‘brunettes’ (popular 18th-century songs in a rustic vein) was issued in 2021 on the Alpha Classics label, earning many enthusiastic reviews in the press (awarded 5 stars in Classica, 5 in Diapason, acclaimed by Gramophone, Le Figaro, etc.), as well as wide public success.
Les Kapsber’girls are regularly offered periods of residential study and research to pursue their artistic work. Since the ensemble’s foundation, they have been hosted by the Académie Bach in Arques-la-Bataille, the Cité de la Voix in Vézelay, Sinfonia in Périgord, the CCR in Ambronay, the CCR Farm of Villefavard and the CCR of the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes.
01. Il Primo Libro de Madrigali, a due, tre, quattro, e cinque voce: Sonetto. Proemio dell’opera
02. In amor ci vuol ardir
03. Amor mio, facciam la pace
04. Corrente quinta
05. Il Primo Libro de Madrigali, a due, tre, quattro, e cinque voce: Canto di bella bocca