Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht 2024

The festival will present programs focused on the Renaissance and Baroque music of Seville with the participation of international artists and ensembles.

Under the slogan My Dear Seville, the festival will explore the coexistence of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions in the Andalusian city, as well as its musical influence during the Renaissance and Baroque periods. It will honor historical figures such as Morales, Guerrero, and Peñalosa, alongside Baroque repertoires by Correa de Arauxo and Durón, and works inspired by cultural exchanges with Latin America.

Spanish artists will play a prominent role in this edition. The ensemble Cantoría, which specializes in vocal polyphony, will serve as the artist-in-residence, offering performances both as a quartet and in its expanded format, Cantoría XL. Additionally, the renowned Jordi Savall, along with Hespêrion XXI, will present a program dedicated to four centuries of slavery, while international ensembles like L’Arpeggiata will perform Spanish repertoires. Música Temprana, conducted by Adrián Rodríguez van der Spoel, will open the festival with a monumental multi-choir program, solidifying its reputation in Spanish and Latin American Renaissance and Baroque music.

In addition to established artists, the festival will promote emerging talent through its regular programming and free Fringe, reaffirming its commitment to the future of early music. With Koert Debeuf as co-curator, the event will also address historical themes such as colonialism and cultural fusion, highlighting the Arab influence in Europe.