Join Opera Lafayette and host Julia Doe, for this three-part online Salon Series about Marie Antoinette, an incredible woman in history who shaped much of French musical tastes in the 18th century and inspired our 2022 musical season (get tickets). Each session will feature a unique look into her life, led by different guest scholars weekly.

MUSIC AT MARIE ANTOINETTE’S VERSAILLES – WITH GUEST HOST JULIA DOE

Wednesday, April 13, 2022, 6 PM EST

This presentation will offer a deeper dive into Marie Antoinette’s activities as a musical performer and patron. We’ll first detail how music infused Marie Antoinette’s private life at Versailles, addressing the queen’s vocal and instrumental training, her salon concerts, and her participation in amateur theatricals at the Petit Trianon. We’ll then consider how Marie Antoinette’s artistic preferences influenced the broader evolution of French musical style, examining her relationships with key composers of the Enlightenment, and her impact on the ceremonial repertory of the Bourbon court.