Méhul: Le Chant du départ Ouvertures et œuvres révolutionnaires Overtures and Revolutionary Works Les Jacobins Mathieu Lussier, Artistic Direction ACD2 2659 • The ensemble Les Jacobins originated with the desire to explore the rich but little-known repertoire associated with the French Revolution.   The group is comprised of Mathieu Lussier in collaboration with Canadian and international wind players.   This exploration of the music of Étienne-Nicolas Méhul is the ensemble's second CD on the ATMA Classique label. • Méhul: Le Chant du départ includes arrangements of the overtures to six of Méhul's successful operas. At the end of the 18th century, it was common practice to arrange extracts from fashionable operas for small ensembles, often wind octets, to allow them to be performed in a range of contexts. Several revolutionary pieces are also included, such as Le Chant du Départ, a war song for the Revolutionary French armies. • Étienne-Nicolas Méhul (1763-1817), the first true French Romantic composer, wrote many patriotic works that were frequently played throughout the celebrations of the Revolution. Though Méhul composed many symphonic works that were comparable to the innovations of his contemporaries Haydn and Beethoven, it was in the theatre that the composer really made his mark. Étienne-Nicolas Méhul (1763-1817)   1. Mélidor & Phrosine (1794)   2. Ariodant (1799)   3. La Chasse du jeune Henri (1797)   4. Stratonice (1792)   5. Joseph (1807)   6. Euphrosine, ou le tyran corrigé (1790)   7. Le Chant du déépart (1794)   8. Le 18 Fructidor (1798)   9. Hymne du IX Thermidor (2e version) 10. Hymne à la raison (1793) 11. Hymne des vingt-deux (1795) 12. Hymne pour la fête des époux (1798) 13. Le Chant du retour (1797) ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879