La Tempête

Founded in 2015, the vocal and instrumental ensemble La Tempête was born from the merger of the choir Luce del Canto and the ensemble Europa Barocca, under the impulse of organist and harpsichordist Simon‑Pierre Bestion.

Very quickly, La Tempête distinguished itself through its original approach to performance, seeking to create a sensory immersion for the audience. Its productions combine singing from memory, choreographed movement of the musicians, lighting design, and sound spatialisation — elements that together create a uniquely immersive experience.

Another defining trait of La Tempête is its eclectic repertoire, bringing together several aesthetics within a single programme. It draws primarily on early and traditional music while integrating modern and contemporary repertoires. This artistic direction emerged from the company’s very beginnings, when it chose its name in reference to its first collective project: a performance combining theatre, dance, and music inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. That production blended music from the 17th to the 20th centuries, from Henry Purcell to Philippe Hersant, via Matthew Locke and Frank Martin.

The recording of this programme, released on the Alpha label, became the company’s first album. Since then, La Tempête has multiplied its programmes, recordings, and achievements: Larmes de Résurrection, Jérusalem, Hypnos, L’Enfant noir, Nocturne, Bach, minimaliste, and, in 2024, Orlando have all received numerous distinctions from the international music press.

La Tempête has been supported by the Société Générale Corporate Foundation since the creation of the ensemble in 2015, in recognition of its innovative and creative approach to classical music and performance. Supported until 2019, La Tempête again became a partner of the Société Générale Corporate Foundation in January 2024.

Photo credit: © Hubert Caldagues