William Christie
(c) Denis Rouvre
Today the Dutch Leiden University will award an Honorary Doctorate to William Christie, American harpsichordist, conductor, musicologist and teacher, and one of the foremost pioneers in the renewed appreciation of Baroque music in France, notably from the 17th and 18th century. The University says: « His work, particularly on the theatrical repertoire of Lully, Rameau, Charpentier, Marais and Campra, has introduced this music to previously unimagined audiences, in regularly sold-out venues. »
William Christie, a true ‘American in Paris’, where he has lived now for over forty years founded in 1979 the now world-famous ensemble Les Arts Florissants, which comprises soloists, choir and orchestra, and has given hundreds of concerts and done more than seventy CD productions.
