Carnegie Hall

Théotime Langlois de Swarte is rapidly emerging as a much sought-after violin soloist (on both Baroque and modern instruments), chamber musician, recitalist, and conductor. Recognition has come in the form of major awards, including the 2022 Diapason d’Or de l’Année for his recording of Vivaldi, Locatelli, and Leclair concertos, and the 2022 Ambassador of the Year Award from the REMA European Early Music Network, along with additional recording awards and a February 2022 cover story in The Strad.

In solo appearances on both Baroque and modern violin, Mr. de Swarte regularly offers concertos by all Baroque masters, along with those of Haydn and Mozart. He has appeared with Les Arts Florissants, Holland Baroque, Les Ombres, Le Consort, and Orchestre national de Lorraine. His engagements have brought him to prestigious venues such as the Philharmonie de Paris, Vienna’s Musikverein, Berlin’s Philharmonie, and Los Angeles’s Walt Disney Concert Hall. In 2023, he makes his debut at Wigmore Hall and his first tour to Australia.

Mr. de Swarte studied at the Paris Conservatory under Michaël Hentz, and became a regular member of Les Arts Florissants at William Christie’s invitation in 2014 while still a student. He has since appeared as soloist with the ensemble, with which he will perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on a North American tour in spring 2025. He has also performed in recital with Mr. Christie, including a 2021 recording of sonatas by Leclair and Senaillé.

As co-founder with harpsichordist Justin Taylor of the Baroque ensemble Le Consort, Mr. de Swarte can be heard on numerous recordings, including Specchio Veneziano, Opus 1, and Royal Handel—all on Alpha Classics.

In addition to Mr. Christie, frequent recital collaborators include harpsichordist Justin Taylor, lute player Thomas Dunford, and pianist Tanguy de Williencourt, with whom he recorded A concert at the time of Proust playing the newly restored Davidov Stradivarius of the Philharmonie de Paris Museum. His other chamber music ensemble is Trio Eluard, with which he has recorded An Invitation at the Schumanns’ presenting intimate performances of music by Robert and Clara.

Mr. de Swarte is a laureate of the Banque Populaire Foundation. He plays a Jacob Stainer violin of 1665 loaned by the Jumpstart Foundation.

Harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist, and teacher William Christie is the inspiration behind one of the most exciting musical adventures of the last 40 years. A pioneer in the rediscovery of Baroque music, he has introduced the repertoire of 17th- and 18th-century France to audiences around the globe. Born in Buffalo, New York, and educated at Harvard and Yale, Mr. Christie has lived in France since 1971. The turning point in his career came in 1979, when he founded Les Arts Florissants. Major public recognition came in 1987 with the production of Lully’s Atys at the Opéra Comique in Paris. Les Arts Florissants has been ensemble in residence at the Philharmonie de Paris and is recognized as a Heritage Site for Culture.

From Charpentier to Rameau through Couperin and Mondonville, Mr. Christie is the uncontested master of tragédie-lyrique as well as opéra-ballet, and is just as comfortable with the French motet as with music of the court. But his affection for French music does not preclude him from exploring other European repertoire such as Monteverdi, Rossi, Scarlatti, Landi, Purcell, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, or J. S. Bach. Notable among his recent operatic work are Handel’s Jephtha at the Opéra de Paris, Ariodante at the Vienna State Opera, The Beggar’s Opera on European tour, Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea at the Salzburg Festival, Rameau’s Platée at the Theater an der Wien, Mondonville’s Titon et l’Aurore at the Opéra Comique, and Handel’s Partenope on international tour.

As a guest conductor, Mr. Christie often appears alongside the Berliner Philharmoniker and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at opera festivals such as Glyndebourne and at the Metropolitan Opera, Zurich Opera House, and Opéra National de Lyon. His extensive discography includes more than 100 recordings. The most recent—J. S. Bach’s B-Minor Mass; Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea; N’espérez plus, mes yeux; Générations: Senaillé—Leclair; Platée; and Handel’s L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato—are issued by harmonia mundi.