England

Ten years… already! Ten years of passion, discoveries, (great) enjoyment, and uncertainties (just enough not to fall asleep). Ten years that have gone by at the speed of light and that testify to the vitality of early music and the thirst for beauty and innovation in a region that has responded to our call from the very first moments of our event. An anniversary that will not be celebrated with great pomp (that’s not the nature of our organization) but by continuing the exploration of Europe’s national music treasures as initiated four years ago, inspired by a yearning greater than ever… gargantuan! Following Spain and preceding Germany (in 2011), England is the guest of honor in 2010 – gracious and refined, brassy and festive.

On the programme, as customary, our unique blend of new encounters with the return of some old friends. Among the newcomers: violinist Odile Edouard’s “Witches” who will lead us from the court of Elisabeth I to Ireland’s pubs on Friday; Bertrand Cuiller, harpsichordist and virginalist, with Thomas Tomkins’ very rare “Lessons of Worthe” in his baggage; the Trio Mediaeval who will initiate a grand evening in Scandinavia on Sunday; the string trio Venustas; and finally on Monday Guido Morini’s and Marco Beasley’s celebrated ensemble Accordone with their programme “Farewell, Italia!”.

Returning friends include German oboist Katharina Bäuml and her “La Capella de la Torre” who will provide the festival’s overture on Thursday with a new and exclusive programme: an anthology of music composed for King Henry VIII woven together with a narrated history of the monarchy. Saturday, the “gala” evening: excerpts from Handel’s “Messiah” as well as the two “Coronation Anthems” performed by the Ensemble Orlando from Fribourg and the baroque orchestra La Cetra from Basel under the direction of Laurent Gendre. And last but not least: the incontrovertible Ruedi Lutz, our “crazy” friend praised by amateurs and specialists alike, who will provide a “late-night” programme on Sunday that will sustain the inspired magic of the Trio Mediaeval late into the night… accompanied by a buffet of Scandinavian specialties!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank sincerely all who help to make “La Folia” possible year after year: our patrons, sponsors, partners, friends, benefactors, and certainly you, our faithful audiences! We are looking forward to transforming Rougemont once again into a temple of early music for a weekend… and to welcoming you there!