Keeping the Baroque spirit alive, passing on the Arts Florissants project

When William Christie founded Les Arts Florissants in 1979, he wanted to revive the Baroque spirit through the emotion of music. This required creating an entire ‘economy’: building an audience and relying on musicians who were masters of period instruments. Forty-five years later, Baroque music has emerged from the shadows, William Christie and Les Arts Florissants are renowned throughout the world, and the pioneering musical ensemble has spawned many imitators. This success was the result of one man's passion, his desire to constantly reinterpret the repertoire to bring it up to date, and the establishment of a solid economic model around his name. The project must now be perpetuated and the spirit of Baroque music anchored and passed on. The appointment of Paul Agnew as co-musical director, the creation of a foundation and the development of a cultural centre in the founder's gardens in the village of Thiré, in the French region of Vendée, are all contributing to this.