Le Concert d'Astrée
Biography
The vocal and instrumental ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée was founded by harpsichordist and conductor Emmanuelle Haïm to perform the great vocal works of the Baroque era. Haïm formed Le Concert d'Astrée in 2000 with the intention of performing Baroque vocal repertory. The group has emphasized French music, but not to the exclusion of other national traditions. The choir has about 50 members, and the orchestra has 68. The size can vary according to the needs of the performance. The new group quickly made an impact on the recording scene, backing an all-star group of singers led by soprano Natalie Dessay on the album Handel: Arcadian Duets in 2002. Le Concert d'Astrée has been featured on some 75 albums, including anthologies, and has been the primary artist on some of them, including a 2023 release of music by André Campra, Jean-Joseph Mondonville, and Jean-Philippe Rameau.