LE Masque de Fer – The Iron Mask

The music of the famous, mysterious prisoner at the time of the Sun King

A prisoner who was allowed to make music in his cell... The man in the iron mask died in the Bastille around 1703 and was buried in an unknown location. From descriptions by his contemporaries, we learn that his privileges included the possession of a lute and the latest music prints, but his identity will probably remain a mystery for a long time to come and continue to exert such a strong fascination on us. The music of one of the most mysterious prisoners in history probably tells of the pain of loneliness, and sometimes it echoes what reaches his ears: church bells (Cloches), human voices (Les voix humaines) or the echo in the corridors. But it is also entertaining and filled with the joy of a man who, despite his isolation, has been able to enjoy certain advantages.
With this program, La Ninfea makes the prisoner's emotional states audible and at the same time brings the spirit of that magnificent era to life - with music that the prisoner himself may have played and known.