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Photo: Frédéric Iovino
Le Concert d’Astrée
This group of superb singers and instrumentalists,
linked since 2000 by passion, common artistic
aims and temperament, is led by Emmanuelle
Haïm. Under her direction, the Baroque ensemble
has achieved international success in the course
of a mere three years. Aside from concerts in its
homeland of France (Opéra National du Rhin,
Théâtre de Caen, Bordeaux Opéra, Théâtre du
Châtelet, and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris),
the ensemble has performed at among other venues,
the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Barbican
Centre in London, Lincoln Center in New York and
Konzerthaus in Vienna, as well as at the Potsdam
festival and the Salzburger Festspiele. Le Concert
d’Astrée’s permanent headquarters are at the Lille
Opera, where the ensemble has presented concert
versions of such operas as G. F. Handel’s Tamerlano
(2004) and C. Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (2005), as well
as oratorio and cantata works (Handel’s Il trionfo del
16
Tempo e del Disinganno, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater,
W. A. Mozart’s Mass in C minor etc.). The choir,
led by Denis Comtet, takes part in large projects
or appears as a chamber ensemble; individual
vocalists also sing solo parts (madrigals in L’Orfeo).
In preparing staged productions, the ensemble has
collaborated with the following directors: Robert
Wilson, David McVicar, and Jean-Louis Martinoty.
A permanent contract with Virgin Classics, with
which the group has been associated for ten years,
has borne fruit in numerous recordings of Baroque
repertoire. For its recording achievements, the
ensemble has received prestigious awards and several
Victoires de la Musique Classique distinctions,
together with the title of best ensemble of the year.
Since 2001, Le Concert d’Astrée’s activity has been
supported by France Télécom Foundation; starting
in 2007, patronage of the group’s activity was taken
over by Mécénat Musical Société Générale. Its
further development is facilitated by the sponsorship
of the French government.