This afternoon the dazzling Julie Roset and La Néréide take us to Ferrara. #FOMU25 #Utrecht

Wonderful singing from La Néréide, in a beautiful programme. One of the most elegant performances of the festival for me. Really classy. #FOMU25 #Utrecht #EarlyMusic

And later another extravaganza by Simon-Pierre Bestion and La Tempête with their Hypnos programme (mind you, it’s in a church (Jacobikerk), so probably there will be few special effects). #FOMU25 #Utrecht

This evening in Utrecht, perennial festival favourites, L’Arpeggiata, with Malena Ernman. No doubt it will be a full house. #Fomu25 #Utrecht #Baroque

I say this every year, when I visit the festival, but Utrecht is so cute! (Plus I just had the best ramen I’ve ever had. Yummm.) #FOMU25

Tonight in Utrecht: Michele Pasotti and La Fonte Musica with “a surprising new reading” of L’Orfeo. I guess we’ll find out how much of a traditionalist I am, as far as Monteverdi is concerned… 😜🕺 #FOMU25 #Utrecht #EarlyMusic #HIP

A “scenic performance “ by La Tempête and Simon-Pierre Bestion at Utrecht’s Early Music Festival this afternoon. Given Bestion’s form in the “genre”, and the topic (ancient Sibyls), this should be interesting. #FOMU25

"Mona Lisa" by Arthouse17 in the Paardenkathedraal, Utrecht: music + artistic slapstick at festival @oudemuziek #fomu25

A fascinating, ritualistic and atmospheric production by Bestion and La Tempête on the ancient sibyls, death, and the future (or perhaps: living in the present). Not everything worked, but the young troupe — they all seemed to be able to sing, dance, act, and play instruments — shone. #FOMU25

Another hit from Simon-Pierre Bestion and La Tempête. I know the album, but the intensity of the singers (and two instrumentalists) right in front of us was something else — a hypnotic sound bath. The audience participation: singers walking around… (and my neighbour coughing). 🤣 #FOMU25 #Utrecht

Tonight in Utrecht promises a more solemn turn than last night’s Corelli fest: Schütz with Philip Pierlot and the Ricercar Consort. No tap dancing, presumably. That may be reserved for this afternoon — Bestion and La Tempête rarely play it straight. 🕺😇😏 #FOMU25 #Utrecht

L’Arpeggiata made it a real party tonight - Ernman fitting right in, and clearly relishing the jazzier numbers, (especially the final encore about “the animal that kills all others and the planet, man” (she’s Greta Thunberg’s mother after all): Sting’s Fragile). A joy, as always. #FOMU25 #Utrecht

A total triumph for Michele Pasotti et al. Everyone just right for their role, gorgeous orchestral playing, and Mauro Borgioni a brilliant Orfeo - his “Possente spirto” really stupendous, not just technically, but also emotionally. Wow! #FOMU25 #Monteverdi #Utrecht #EarlyMusic #HIP