New York, Prague, Barcelona, Vienna

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

It was a long-awaited return—William Christie at Carnegie Hall in New York with Les Arts Florissants to celebrate his 80th birthday. Born in Buffalo, New York, but a longtime resident of France, he may not be claimed as a true New Yorker, yet the city has embraced him ever since he staged a full production of Lully’s Atys at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 1989. The evening held a surprise: mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato took the stage for a mesmerizing performance of “As with rosy steps the morn” from Handel’s Theodora—a perfect birthday gift.

With Ana Vieira Leite, Rebecca Leggett, Juliette Mey, Richard Pittsinger, Bastien Rimondi, Matthieu Walendzik, Joyce Didonato, Les Arts Florissants and William Christie.

Grunge Rock for Hana Blažíková (Prague)

Baroque isn’t the only thing in Hana Blažíková’s life. The Czech soprano and harpist also explores the raw energy of punk-grunge with her sister Zuzana and cousin Eliška as the core members of the band StillKnox. On February 18, they performed at Papa’s Bar in Prague, playing their own compositions alongside covers of Hole, Nick Cave, and more. Most of their lyrics are in English. The band’s name, StillKnox, is a playful nod to the well-known sleeping pill… Stilnox!

With Zuzana Yoloxochitl Beránková, Hana Blažíková, Eliška Kohoutová and Ing. Jirka Fucker Atlet.

La Mérope, an Opera by Domènec Terradellas (Barcelona)

After its success at Madrid’s Teatro Real and ahead of performances in Berlin and Vienna, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin captivated audiences last week at Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu with a concert version of La Mérope, an opera by Domènec Terradellas. Born in Barcelona, Terradellas made a name for himself in Italy in the mid-1740s as an opera composer. Though his life was cut short at just 39, his work is gradually being rediscovered for its striking musicality. La Mérope embodies the essence of Italian opera seria, featuring dazzling vocal lines, a rich orchestral sound, and a gripping plot that oscillates between psychological thriller and melodrama.

With Emöke Baráth, Francesca Pia Vitale, Paul-Antoine Bénos-Djian, Valerio Contaldo, Sunhae Im, Margherita Maria Sala, Thomas Hobbs, Akademie für alte Musik Berlin and Francesco Corti.

The Return of Concentus Musicus to Palais Zögernitz (Vienna)

“Back to our roots, toward new horizons”—this is the motto of Concentus Musicus‘ new concert series at Zögernitz palace in Vienna. The ensemble has had a close connection with this magnificent venue and its Casino Hall since 1968, notably through the historic recording of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo. Over the decades, numerous studio productions followed, always under the direction of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Among them, the 1977 recording of Vivaldi’s Quattro Stagioni, featuring Alice Harnoncourt as soloist, remains to this day one of the most acclaimed interpretations of the work.

To mark the 300th anniversary of The Four Seasons—and 48 years after Concentus Musicus’ iconic recording—the ensemble returned to revive this musical tradition with a unique concert: Vivaldi 4×4. The idea of representing the richness of the four seasons—both in Vivaldi’s music and in nature—through four different soloists from the ensemble offered a completely fresh listening experience. The concert, sold out for weeks, was met with great enthusiasm by the audience.

With Erich Höbarth, Maria Kubizek, David Drabek, Veronika Böhm, Concentus Musicus and Stefan Gottfried.