Return to Versailles

Musica Gloria takes you back to the French court of the early 18th century, where oboist Pierre Danican Philidor and violinist Jacques Christophe Huguenet composed elegant music for the royal salons. Their suites and sonatas are brimming with refined expression and playful energy. Fast and lively dances such as the passacaille, gigue, gavotte and courante … Musica Gloria performs them all, in a colourful ensemble featuring instruments such as the Baroque oboe, traverso, theorbo and viola da gamba. Led by Nele Vertommen and Beniamino Paganini, the ensemble brings these forgotten gems back to life with historically informed flair, warm instrumental colours and their characteristic musical vitality. It promises to be a fascinating journey through the soundscape of 18th-century Versailles: elegant, lively and surprisingly modern in spirit. With music by Jacques Christophe Huguenet (1680-1729) and Pierre Danican Philidor (1681-1731). Bio Leuven-based Musica Gloria is a young, international, instrumental and vocal Baroque ensemble under the inspiring artistic direction of Beniamino Paganini and Nele Vertommen. They go to great lengths to connect with the audience and deliver top-quality performances. Depending on the programme and the project, Musica Gloria performs with between 2 and 40 of its members. These passionate musicians bring early music to the audience with great enthusiasm, performing it in an expressive, lively and historically informed manner on (replicas of) period instruments.