Charpentier: Acteon

Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s dramatic miniature *Actéon* tells the myth of the hunter who was punished by the goddess Diana for surprising her while she was bathing. *Actéon* was originally composed for a countertenor, but Charpentier revised the work a few months later and assigned the title role to a boy soprano. Featuring a combination of performers that Charpentier frequently favored—a small group of singers, two violins, two flutes, and basso continuo—“Actéon” and “Actéon changé en biche” showcase the full range of his dramatic and expressive abilities. Scherzi Musicali now presents a comparison of these two versions, with the second version recorded here for the first time.