ENSEMBLE CORONA (Netherlands)

Emotions: this is what Corona manages to produce with its non-dogmatic and humour-filled interpretations of music prior to 1600. Its passionate musicians use stringed instruments, voice, recorders, cornetto and percussion, and a good dose of improvisation, resulting in an imaginative style.

Their shows, which also include a combination of theatrical and narrative elements, guarantee to be a treat for the eye and ear, and to touch the heart of the audience as well.

KATARINA LIVLJANIĆ (Croatia/France)

Katarina Livljanić, singer and musicologist, is one of the principal international specialists in medieval chant performance. She directs the vocal ensemble Dialogos that specializes in medieval chant and liturgical theatre. They often explore music of the ancient Dalmatian Glagolitic tradition. She is currently Maître de conferences in medieval music at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

ENSEMBLE RESPONSORIUM (Croatia)

Responsorium performs vocal and instrumental pieces of the 16th and early 17th century, with prominence given to the revitalisation of Croatian baroque musical literature. The ensemble follows the principle of authentic and historically informed interpretation of early music.

EARLY OPERA COMPANY (UK)

Christian Curnyn, conductor

Iesty Davies, countertenor

The Early Opera Company is a vibrant, young professional ensemble. Founded in 1994, they are Britain’s foremost specialists of baroque opera. The ensemble is well known for their productions of baroque operas by Handel (Agrippina, Serse, Ariodante, Acis and Galatea, Orlando, Partenope, Alcina, Flavio, Amadigi), which they have performed at British festivals (Covent Garden, South Bank Centre Early Music, Cheltenham, Iford) and internationally.

Iestyn Davies is one of the leading British countertenors of his generation. His performances of Handel, as well as Monteverdi, Vivaldi and Bach are acclaimed, both on the opera stage and on record.