Celebrating Christmas with Le Concert d’Astrée
Los Angeles Philharmonic, Emmanuelle Haïm, Carlo Vistoli, Thomas Hooten, James Wilt, Le Concert d’Astrée Choir
Walt Disney Concert HallSouth Hope Street, Los Angeles 90012
Emmanuelle Haïm conducts the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a Christmas program joined by the Le Concert d’Astrée Choir, countertenor Carlo Vistoli, and trumpeters Thomas Hooten and James Wilt. The seasonal program moves from Handel’s Concerto Grosso, Op. 6, No. 5 and Corelli’s 1690 “Christmas Concerto” to Vivaldi’s volatile In furore iustissimae irae, Concerto for Two Trumpets, and Gloria. The choir takes on the jubilant sacred centerpiece, while the concerto brings the two trumpet soloists forward.
Le Concert d’Astrée is the Lille-based vocal and instrumental Baroque ensemble founded by Haïm in 2000. Devoted to 17th- and 18th-century music, it is known for historically informed performance and has been ensemble-in-residence at the Opéra de Lille since 2004. Its work has included collaborations with singers Philippe Jaroussky, Sandrine Piau, Sabine Devieilhe, Jakub Józef Orliński, and Léa Desandre. The LA Phil calls the group one of the foremost ensembles in its field; The Independent described its players as “specialists of the baroque and early classical,” praising their “exceptionally well-played” instruments and Haïm’s “confident élan.”
Designed by Frank Gehry, this concert hall is a striking architectural landmark with sweeping stainless steel curves that catch the light outside, while inside, its acoustics are meticulously crafted to deliver rich, clear sound to every seat. The auditorium seats over two thousand people in a space where the audience is fully immersed in the music, surrounded by warm wood paneling and a stage that brings performers close to listeners. The venue hosts ticketed performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other ensembles, offering an evening focused on attentive listening rather than casual socializing. Nearby bars and restaurants in Downtown Los Angeles provide options for pre- or post-show dining, but inside, the experience centers on the music in a refined, elegant setting.