François-André Danican Philidor pursued successful parallel careers as the composer of over 21 operas and as a chess virtuoso, known not least for his skill in simultaneous blindfold games. His oratorio, Carmen sæculare, is a setting of poems by Horace associated with the Roman centennial celebrations of 17 B.C. Written at the instigation of the Italian scholar Giuseppe Baretti, who chose the Latin texts and sought ‘a man able to temper alternately the solemnity of church-music with the brilliancy of the theatrical’, this majestic, and at times operatic work is coupled with overtures to three of Philidor’s popular and brilliant comic operas.