During the Age of Exploration, France experienced an unprecedented cultural fervour. Trade routes and distant cultures enriched its identity. Exotic sounds and rhythms shaped both noble salons and concert halls. In this quest for new sonorities, by the mid-18th century, the cello finally gained prominence in France, replacing the viola da gamba, which had dominated European music for centuries.

The emphasis on deep sonorities is the culmination of this recording, featuring compositions by Louis-François-Joseph Patouart and Martin Berteau. The latter's story is particularly significant, embodying the spirit of the recording: he founded the French cello school, despite having started his career with the viola da gamba.