Advent Music. Hortus Musicus
The Hortus Musicus ensemble’s program features 16th-17th century Italian and French music. Written centuries ago in the influential cultural centers of Europe, Milan (composer Ignazio Donati), Venice (Claudio Monteverdi) and Versailles (Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Michel Richard Delalande), it sounds fresh, festive and heartfelt under the arches of St. Nicholas in the spirit of Advent anticipation.
Hortus Musicus began its activities in 1972, dedicating itself to the discovery and performance of pre-Bachian music, which was virtually unknown at the time. The ensemble, which has been continuously active to this day, has expanded its repertoire in several directions over the years: in addition to early classical music, the programs feature works by 20th and 21st century composers (often created especially for Hortus Musicus), as well as traditional and folk music from exotic countries. Hortus Musicus’ music-making is characterized by a non-standard, creative attitude towards music that is temporally, but not essentially, distant from us. That is why Hortus Musicus’ concerts and recordings sound fresh, understandable, and powerful – it is the living music of contemporary people. The
2025/2026 season is already the fifty-fourth for the ensemble, presenting the audience with masterpieces from the Golden Middle Ages, the lively Renaissance, the brilliant Baroque, and by contemporary composers.
