Lisbon, Vienna, Zamora, Meiningen, Appingedam, Liège

In Lisbon (Portugal), a fourth edition for the Lisboa Barroca Festival

The fourth edition of Lisboa Barroca took place from 23 to 25 October 2026 in the historic districts of Graça and São Vicente. Centred on a dialogue between music and poetry, the programme notably brought together the Noa Noa ensemble, exploring Iberian musical traditions of the Renaissance, and the young Portuguese ensemble Occasus, devoted to women Baroque composers.

Harpsichordist Élisabeth Joyé combined music and poetry alongside Margarida Batista, while cellist Cyril Poulet performed Bach’s Suites at the National Pantheon. Renaissance improvisation workshops and musical visits – including one at the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora with the Capella de São Vicente and organist João Vaz – completed the 2026 edition.

With Noa Noa, Occasus, Élisabeth Joyé, Cyril Poulet, Capella de São Vicente and João Vaz.

In Vienna (Austria), a new production of L’Orfeo at the State Opera

A major event at the Vienna State Opera, which is presenting a new production of Claudio Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo until the end of November, one of the foundational works in the history of opera. The production is directed by Briton Tom Morris, with sets and costumes by Anna Fleischle.

In the pit, Concentus Musicus Wien is conducted by Stefan Gottfried. Tenor Rolando Villazón plays the mythical singer prepared to defy death to recover his Eurydice, sung by Florina Ilie. Nadezhda Karyazina notably portrays Music and Hope, while Margaret Plummer sings Proserpine.

With Rolando Villazón, Florina Ilie, Nadezhda Karyazina, Margaret Plummer, Concentus Musicus Wien and Stefan Gottfried.

In Zamora (Spain), Lucile Richardot and Les Paladins give voice to Lucretia

At the fourth edition of the Músicas Cercadas festival in Zamora, contralto Lucile Richardot and Les Paladins, directed by Jérôme Correas, presented their programme “Lucrezia – Portraits de femme”. In the intimate setting of the Romanesque church of San Cipriano, they brought to life, through cantatas by Handel and Benedetto Marcello, the tragic fate of Lucretia, a figure from ancient Rome, victim of violence and symbol of resistance to oppression.

An exploration of the expressive power of the Italian Baroque, between pain, revolt and female dignity. The festival also welcomed Léa Desandre and Thomas Dunford, as well as the ensemble Psallentes. A Nocte Temporis, directed by Reinoud Van Mechelen, gave the closing concert with a programme devoted to Bach.

With Lucile Richardot, Les Paladins and Jérôme Correas.

In Meiningen (Germany), Max Emanuel Cencic puts King Flavio back in the bath!

Three years after its success at the Bayreuth Baroque Festival, Handel’s Flavio, Re de’ Longobardi returns to the stage at the Staatstheater Meiningen in Germany, where the production was enthusiastically received on 23 October. Max Emanuel Cencic once again takes on the dual role of director and singer, performing Guido alongside French countertenor Rémy Brès-Feuillet as King Flavio.

First performed in London in 1723, this rarely staged opera becomes a jubilant satire of court intrigue, combining political rivalries, amorous passions and royal frivolities. Corina Grămoșteanu’s sumptuous Baroque costumes, Helmut Stürmer’s sets and tableaux inspired by William Hogarth’s caricatures give the production its full brilliance. At the head of the Meininger Hofkapelle, French conductor Camille Delaforge leads a cast combining international guests with members of the company. Nine performances are scheduled through to March 2027.

With Max Emanuel Cencic, Rémy Brès-Feuillet, Meininger Hofkapelle and Camille Delaforge.

In Appingedam (Netherlands), Bach’s motets with the Luthers Bach Ensemble

In the majestic setting of the Nicolaïkerk in Appingedam, the Netherlands, the Luthers Bach Ensemble, directed by Tymen Jan Bronda, performed six motets by Johann Sebastian Bach. With All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day approaching, the programme invited reflection on death and the hope of eternal life.

Accompanied by a Baroque orchestra, the ensemble’s choir alternated a cappella pieces, continuo accompaniment and fuller instrumental forces. Among the works performed was the jubilant Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, whose discovery in Leipzig profoundly impressed Mozart in 1789. A meeting between Bach’s contrapuntal virtuosity and the spirituality of his choral writing, in one of the finest historic churches in the province of Groningen.

With Luthers Bach Ensemble and Tymen Jan Bronda.

In Liège (Belgium), Céline Scheen and L’Arpeggiata journey between Spain and the Americas

The 69th edition of the Les Nuits de Septembre festival in Liège came to a close on 11 October with a musical journey between Spain and Latin America. For this closing concert at the Salle Philharmonique, Belgian soprano Céline Scheen was reunited with Christina Pluhar’s L’Arpeggiata, alongside mezzo-soprano Luciana Mancini.

Entitled La Torre del Oro, after the famous tower in Seville from which galleons departed for the New World, the programme brought music from the Spanish Renaissance, notably by Alonso Mudarra and Santiago de Murcia, into dialogue with folk traditions from Mexico and Venezuela. Between folías, fandangos, traditional songs and improvisations, it offered a musical journey full of rhythm and colour, true to the theme of “Journeys” for an edition that brought together eleven concerts from 4 September to 11 October.

With Céline Scheen, Luciana Mancini, L’Arpeggiata and Christina Pluhar.