(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
(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 {…}
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 {…}
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 {…}
(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 {…}