Les Arts Florissants and its co-music directors, William Christie and Paul Agnew, have announced the six laureates of the 13th edition of Le Jardin des Voix who will participate in a new production of Cimarosa’s “Il matrimonio segreto” in the summer of 2027. The laureates are soprano Marianna Herzig (Austria), who will sing the role of Carolina as well as {…}
The Festival Perelada is set to present its 4th Easter Edition. The Festival opens with the revival of “Cristo condannato” by Antonio Caldara and Pietro Pariati. The cast includes Ana Quintans, Maite Beaumont, Nicolas Brooymans, Montserrat Seró, and Josep Ramon Olivé, accompanied by the Francesc Valls Choir, under the direction of Pere Lluís Biosca, who debuts at the festival as {…}
Les Arts Florissants is set to make its first appearance at BAM since 2019 with three performances of “A Merry French Christmas” from Dec. 5–7, 2025. Founder and co-musical director William Christie leads the Orchestra and Choir in a program of sacred music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, featuring the “Messe de Minuit pour Noël,” based on the melodies of 10 French {…}
(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, {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
(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 {…}
