Foundation
Les Arts Florissants
William Christie

The Fondation Les Arts Florissants - William Christie is dedicated to revealing, discovering and reviving the Baroque spirit through music, the preservation of heritage and gardens, and the transmission of knowledge.

Drawing on 40 years' experience as a first-rate musical ensemble and an exceptional heritage site, Les Arts Florissants is now a charitable foundation with the "Centre culturel de rencontre" label.

An adventure
both collective and
personal adventure

"Nearly forty years ago, I founded Les Arts Florissants with a few friends; today, I'm keen to ensure that this project continues. That's why it was so important for the Fondation Les Arts Florissants - William Christie to come into being, so that we can continue to pass on our love of music and gardens to future generations of artists and enthusiasts. To make this possible, I decided to donate my entire estate, my house and my gardens, to the Foundation.

This project is the culmination of a lifelong dream. A dream of music and gardens; but also, and above all, a dream of passing on knowledge and passion to future generations of artists and audiences. This is where all my desires converge, and this is where it all begins. This is the start of a great adventure! - William Christie

An international artistic and cultural project

Historically open to the world through its concert tours, Les Arts Florissants operates from a triple base: in Thiré (Vendée, Pays de la Loire), a unique heritage site and home to the Foundation; at the Philharmonie de Paris, where the Ensemble has held an artistic residency since 2015; and finally in New York (USA), where a close collaboration has been ongoing with the Juilliard School since 2007.

A cross
project

Passionate about Baroque art in all its aspects, Les Arts Florissants has over the years extended its activities to include two of William Christie's other passions: the art of gardens and heritage. It's an evolution full of meaning, placed under the sign of transmission, which allowed Les Arts Florissants to obtain the label "Centre Culturel de Rencontre" in 2016.

History

Les arts florissants, l'esprit baroque depuis 1979

1979

Founding of Les Arts Florissants by William Christie.

1985

William Christie acquired a dwelling (the Bâtiment) in Thiré, in the Vendée, surrounded by 4 hectares of land.

1987

Lully's Atys creates a stir at the Opéra-Comique.

2002

Launch of Jardin des Voix, an international academy for young singers run by Les Arts Florissants.

2006

William Christie's garden is listed as a Historic Monument.

2007

Launch of collaboration with the Juilliard School in New York.

2008

William Christie is elected member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Beginning of the Arts Flo Juniors programme for young singers and instrumentalists.

2012

The first edition of the Festival Dans les Jardins de William Christie.

2013

Paul Agnew has been appointed Deputy Music Director of Les Arts Florissants.

2013

Launch of work on the Quartier des Artistes in Thiré.

2015

Les Arts Florissants are in residence at the Philharmonie de Paris.

2016

Awarded the "Cultural Encounter Centre" label.

2017

Creation of the Fondation Les Arts Florissants - William Christie.

2017

First edition of the Spring Festival.

2018

First residencies in the Quartier des Artistes.

2020

Paul Agnew is appointed Co-Musical Director of Les Arts Florissants.

2021

Launch of the Arts Flo Masterclasses in the Quartier des Artistes.

L'équipe de la fondation

William Christie, founder
and co-musical director

Harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist and teacher, William Christie is the architect of one of the most remarkable musical adventures of the last thirty years. Born in Buffalo and based in France, his career took a decisive turn in 1979 when he founded Les Arts Florissants. At the helm of this instrumental and vocal ensemble, he has established a highly personal style as a musician and theatre director in major productions, both in concert and on the opera stage. His discography includes over a hundred recordings.

Paul Agnew, musical co-director

Noticed by William Christie, British tenor and conductor Paul Agnew has established himself on the greatest stages as an interpreter of the Baroque repertoire. In 2013, he became assistant musical director of Les Arts Florissants, with whom he performed the complete madrigals by Monteverdi and Gesualdo, as well as Monteverdi's L'Orfeo - all recorded by harmonia mundi. Co-director of the Jardin des Voix academy and of William Christie's Dans les Jardins festival, he is also artistic director of the Festival de Printemps - Les Arts Florissants. Since 2020 he has been co-musical director of Les Arts Florissants.