Czech conductor Václav Luks, his ensemble Collegium 1704, and alto Lucile Richardot—recently crowned ‘Lyric Artist of the Year 2025’ at France’s Victoires de la Musique awards—were the distinguished guests at the 2017 Vivaldi Day in Utrecht. A dazzling programme to discover. 
After several years dedicated to Johann Sebastian Bach, the organizers of the prestigious Utrecht Oude Muziek festival turned their attention to Vivaldi for their thematic day in January 2017. The Vivaldi Day took place in the heart of the Netherlands, a Protestant country that, at first glance, might seem at odds with the flamboyance and grandeur of the Baroque style. However, the Netherlands has also long been a land of religious and artistic tolerance.
Local musicians quickly embraced the techniques and innovations coming from the rest of Europe, and this rich tradition of openness to music continues today in a country that welcomes influences from around the world. Like many other European nations, the Netherlands is not immune to political upheavals and extremism, but the Utrecht festival remains a beautiful testament to its openness to the world and the arts.
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