Northern Light

About

European influences intermingle in this Baroque program paying tribute to the richness and diversity of the North. While French music flourished at Versailles with its codified style, a very different sound was heard at the court of Charles XI, King of Sweden. Drawing talents from across Europe, the Swedish court became a cosmopolitan hub and a true crossroads of musical cultures. Under the leadership of Kapellmeister Gustav Düben, it turned into an exceptionally vibrant exchange, welcoming German, Italian, and Baltic musicians. This world inspired the composers brought together by Ensemble Correspondances in a kaleidoscopic concert. Their network formed a true elite of traveling musicians, fluent in multiple languages, styles, and traditions. Manuscripts preserved in Sweden’s royal collections bear witness to this lively musical life, whose spirit this concert seeks to rekindle.