The ties between the two regions reach deep into the history of Western European music. At the Spanish court of Philip II, musicians from the Low Countries held a prominent position: with the Capilla Flamenca, the king had at his disposal one of the most prestigious musical institutions of his time.

The year 2027 marks the 500th anniversary of the birth of Philip II. As part of his research into the repertoire performed at the court of the Spanish king and his third wife, Elisabeth of Valois, Recasens was in residency at the Alamire Foundation in September. Drawing on his research into historical sources, he is preparing a new production that reflects the European dimension of the music heard at the Spanish court during the 1560s. Particular attention is devoted to Pierre de Manchicourt, the Franco-Flemish maître de chapelle who directed the Capilla Flamenca in Madrid between 1559 and 1564. The music of the casa de la reina also lends the programme its distinctive character, including French chansons that evoke Elisabeth’s origins and instrumental works by the celebrated blind vihuela player Miguel de Fuenllana.

Would you like to discover more of the work of Albert Recasens and La Grande Chapelle? The ensemble will take to the stage in Leuven as part of Voices of Passion 2027. You can already reserve your tickets here.