At the helm of Les Arts Florissants, William Christie offers a new reading of two masterpieces of Italian sacred music: Scarlatti’s Messa di Santa Cecilia and Vivaldi’s Magnificat.

It was in 1720, at the age of sixty, that Alessandro Scarlatti composed, in Rome, the Messa di Santa Cecilia. Considered the crowning achievement of all his church music, this piece provides a stylistic synthesis of the compositional possibilities of the early 18^th century, in a score full of striking contrasts. During these same years, in Venice, Antonio Vivaldi composed his famous Magnificat for the virtuoso musicians of the Ospedale della Pietà, which he was in charge of. Over a period of more than twenty years, he painstakingly reworked this score into the jewel of sacred music we know today – and which, for this concert, offers a brilliant Venetian counterpart to Scarlatti’s Roman Mass.

While he has conducted the Magnificat on numerous occasions, this is the very first time that William Christie will have conducted the Messa di Santa Cecilia. For the occasion, he has brought together an international cast of young soloists, alongside the choir and orchestra of Les Arts Florissants, all of whom are well versed in this repertoire. A celebration of Baroque brilliance, Italian style !

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Magnificat

Antonio Vivaldi (1687-1741)

Magnificat

Alessandro Scarlatti (1660-1725)

Messa di Santa Cecilia

PRESTIGE VIP CATEGORY : Best seats in house, you will receive a complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

PRESTIGE CATEGORY : Excellent seats, you will receive a complimentary glass of champagne and programme.

REDUCED RATE : applicable to under 26s, Chateau de Versailles Spectacles card holders and groups of more than 10 people (excluding special company offer).

GROUP RATES : for more information, please refer to our page dedicated to works councils and groups.

In case of any technical problem, the box office service remains available to complete your order by phone at +33 (0)1 30 83 78 89 (Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm) or in our box office-shop (3 bis rue des Réservoirs, 78000 Versailles ; Monday-Friday from 11am to 6pm, and on Saturdays with concerts or shows except during the Musical Fountains Shows, from 2pm to 5pm).

To ensure the best welcome possible, people with limited mobility are advised to book their seats by telephone.