Orlando, a melancholic portrait

The French ensemble La Tempête, debuts at the Muziekgebouw with a concert dedicated to one composer: Orlando di Lasso. The versatility of this 16th-century composer and the many adventures he experienced inspired artistic director Simon-Pierre Bestion to a remarkable sound monograph. Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando also plays an important role in it. With effortless ease, the ensemble combines electric guitars with centuries-old cornets, imparting the music with maximum richness.

La Tempête isn’t keen on conventions. Artistic director Simon-Pierre Bestion readily incorporates modern instruments like the saxophone and electric guitar into his arrangements of Renaissance works. Staging and design are the finishing touches. While everything is new, it all serves the music, restoring its old glory.