Anne-Sofie von Otter, Davóne Tines, Reginald Mobley, & Key’mon Murrah Star in Frick Collection 2025-26 Season

(Credits: Rundquist, Morrison, Linder, Kramer) The Frick Collection announces its lineup for the 2025-26 season. This article only features vocal concerts. Mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter and pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout present an intimate Schubertiade featuring “Schwanengesang.” Performance Date: October 12, 2025 Paul Agnew leads Les Arts Florissants in vocal music of the Seventeenth-Eighteenth-Century Spain, France, and Italy Performance Date: October 26, {…}

Dec 29, 2024

Opéra-Comique Paris 2024-25 Review: Les Fêtes d’Hébé

(Photo: Vincent Pontet) If I were to rank the weakest opera libretti of all time, Jean-Philippe Rameau and Antoine-César Gautier de Montdorge’s “Les Fêtes d’Hébé ou Les Talents Lyriques” would certainly be in the top tier. Nevertheless, the opera-ballet possesses an allegorical charm that transcends the quality of its text—and it is a charm that is not solely musical. After {…}

Dec 18, 2024

Les Arts Florissants to Celebrate William Christie’s 80th Birthday at Carnegie Hall

(Credit: Vincent Pontet) Les Arts Florissants are set to take the stage of Carnegie Hall for a special concert on featuring works by Charpentier, Lully, and Rameau. The event, set for Jan. 28, 2025, will celebrate the 80th birthday of artistic director and conductor William Christie as he takes on some of his favorite works. Audiences will hear passages from {…}

May 23, 2024

Les Arts Florissants to Tour North America

(Photo credit: ©Julien Gazeau) This summer, Les Arts Florissants tours its semi-stage production of Purcell’s “The Fairy Queen” throughout North America. William Christie leads Les Arts Florissants and Le Jardin des Voix on the tour. Soloists include soprano Paulina Francisco, mezzo-sopranos Georgia Burashko, Rebecca Leggett, and Juliette Mey, tenor Ilja Aksionov and Rodrigo Carreto, baritone Hugo Herman-Wilson, and bass-baritone Benjamin {…}

Apr 15, 2024

Opéra de Paris 2024 Review: Médée

Photo credit: Elisa Haberer / Opéra national de Paris Paris Opera’s production of Charpentier’s “Médée” is not bad, but throughout the performance, operagoers will be filled with a sensation of uneasiness. It is not necessarily because of its murderous plot, but because the production feels unsuited to its musicians. It leaves one with the feeling of wearing a garment lent {…}

Mar 28, 2023

Opéra Royal de Versailles 2022-23 Review: Dido and Aeneas

Photo: Pablo Lorente Opéra Royal de Versailles’ “Dido and Aeneas” has, on paper, great musicians, a good stage director, good dancers, and even William Christie. But that was not enough to prevent leaving the theater frustrated. The principal point of frustration came from how poorly conceived the production itself was. This failure is exclusive to good and well-intentioned artists—those from {…}

Mar 22, 2021

Les Arts Florissants Premieres ‘Charpentier, Grands Motets’ on Qwest TV This April

(Credit: Vincent Pontet) Les Arts Florissants is set to collaborate with Qwest TV, a global video platform, to offer the exclusive broadcast of the film “Charpentier, Grands Motets” recorded at Versailles’ Royal Chapel. While the original concert program was canceled at the Royal Chapel at Versailles and at La Coursive in La Rochelle, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this production {…}

Aug 28, 2020

Les Arts Florissants’ 2020 Dans Les Jardins de William Christie Festival Concludes This Weekend

Les Arts Florissants’ 2020 “Dans Les Jardins de William Christie” Festival opened in Thiré, France on August 22 with a performance of Handel’s “L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato,” the composer’s pastoral based on the poetry of John Milton. The production kicked off the annual event that combines the thrilling beauty of Baroque music and the art of gardens. The {…}

Apr 10, 2020

Sonya Yoncheva, Miriam Allan, Hannah Morrison Headline Les Arts Florissants’ Streaming Lineup

Les Arts Florissants has made several performances available online to stream on its YouTube channel and website. Among these videos is “La Finta Giardiniera” which features young singers from Le Jardin de Voix. The concert from Nov. 17, 2019 was directed by William Christie. The company is also showcasing a number of concert performances centering on Gesualdo’s Madrigals. The first {…}

Oct 29, 2019

Les Arts Florissants Take Audiences On Intense Journey Through The Sacred Madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo

(Photo credit: Paula Lobo) The MetLiveArts series hosted Les Arts Florissants and Musical Director Paul Agnew at The Met Cloisters for a special performance that featured the sacred madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo. “Tribulationem et dolorem,” “Répons de l’Office des Ténèbres du Jeudi Saint,” and “Miserere mei Deus” are some of Gesualdo’s most impactful compositions that are part of a concert {…}