Kenneth Dulay, countertenor

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

And there was light: By the end of the 16th century at the latest, affect had become an indispensable component of music. Stylus luxurians – "luminous style" – is what music theorist and composer Christoph Bernhard calls this creative device, which was also prevalent in the Baroque period and is characterized by theatricality and intense emotional expression. The Ensemble Astrum researches, experiments, and creates. In their program "And there was light ," the trio of artists led by award-winning Salzburg recorder player Felix Gutschi and Dutch soprano Noëlle Drost dedicate themselves to the stylus luxurians and take the audience on an emotionally profound journey through the Renaissance, Baroque, and early Classical periods.

Museum Concert: Ensemble Astrum And there was

Mozart Residence

Lamento

Cortot Room

La mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre, formée auprès de William Christie et régulièrement nommée aux Victoires de la musique classique, dont elle a été lauréate en 2017, prête sa voix cristalline à trois siècles de chansons d’amour françaises entrecoupées de solos de luth par Thomas Dunford, qui font le lien entre les époques et les styles. Idylle réunit les œuvres de compositeurs inspirés, de Marc-Antoine Carpentier à Barbara en passant par Debussy et Offenbach, plongeant les auditeurs dans la tradition de la chanson française où l’amour est présenté dans tous ses états et sur tous les tons : triste, joyeux, langoureux ou facétieux…

Lea Desandre (mezzo-soprano) & Thomas Dunford (luth)

National Estate of Chambord

We are very happy that Lea Desandre and Thomas Dunford have agreed at short notice to perform their program "Idylle" in Langenbruck!

Lea Desandre and Thomas Dunford in Langenbruck

Reformierte Kirche Langenbruck

Jean-Baptiste Lully once mocked the sound of the lute as a »mosquito hum«. Fortunately, not all composers saw it like this and appreciated its bright and silvery sound very much. When Thomas Dunford strums the lute, it becomes a heavenly partner for Lea Desandre’s agile mezzo soprano. And does so through all eras: her programme »Idylle« (Paradise) bridges the baroque and chanson.

Michel Lambert

Events

Past events

Apr 21, 2026

Kenneth Dulay, countertenor · Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Dec 16, 2025

Museum Concert: Ensemble Astrum And there was · Internationale Stiftung Mozarteum

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