March 22 at Paliesius Manor – the very first performance in the Baltic States by the legendary singer and countertenor Gérard Lesne alongside the baroque ensemble “Le Concert Universel”!

The countertenor is an incredibly rare voice type, the highest of the male operatic voices. Moreover, G. Lesne is blessed with a remarkable instrument: a strikingly bright upper register and a powerful lower register that possesses an extraordinary softness—a quality many singers attain only after long years of tireless devotion. Though his musical journey began as a rock singer, G. Lesne stands today as one of the world’s most vital performers of early music. He is a highly anticipated guest in the most illustrious halls, the creator of over 70 widely acclaimed and award-winning albums, and a recipient of the prestigious French honor of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters. Together with the ensemble “Le Concert Universel,” he has prepared an exceptional program for the Paliesius audience, and we warmly invite you to experience this unmissable performance!

The program crafted by the renowned countertenor Gérard Lesne and the ensemble “Le Concert Universel” was born from the joy of an encounter—between people and between arts. It is conceived as a book whose every turned page awakens wonder, allowing us to discover the quintessence of art that resides at the very center of human life. This music is a gentle return to the essential, a shared moment of simple beauty and creative energy.

You will hear a voice that touches the absolute depths of our being—vibrations echoing through pages woven from vocal and instrumental pieces. It is a thread whose inner dynamic never breaks, flowing seamlessly between depth, meditation, and joy. Like the thread of life itself, this carefully curated program will sweep you into an evening full of emotion and musical brilliance, as Gérard Lesne and the ensemble “Le Concert Universel” delicately weave individual sounds into a unified, breathtaking melody.

Countertenor Gérard Lesne has released more than 70 recordings (30 of them with his own ensemble, “Il Seminario Musicale”), earned 3 “Victoires de la Musique Classique” awards, and performed on the finest international stages, standing as one of the most highly esteemed figures in the music world. A self-taught musician with a rich background spanning various musical styles—including jazz, pop-rock, and electronic music—he has forged a brilliant career in the realm of early music. Yet his mission extends far beyond the mere interpretation of works. To him, being an artist means being a mediator, almost a shaman.

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The professional baroque ensemble “Le Concert Universel” was founded in 2017 by violinist Juliette Roumailhac. It brings together performers who concertize with the most prestigious ensembles, widely recognized for their virtuosity, subtlety, and profoundly deep interpretations of works on period instruments.

The ensemble derives its name and artistic identity from a humanist concept, beautifully encapsulated in an 18th-century tale. The story speaks of all the birds of the world attempting to sing in unison under the direction of a Neapolitan nightingale—a fruitless effort that resulted only in a terrible cacophony. Then, another bird, more inclined toward compromise, suggested that each should sing naturally in its own tone. From this coexistence was born the “grand universal concert,” where “specific dissonances make up the harmony of the whole.”

The ensemble “Le Concert Universel” has released a CD dedicated to Jean-Marie Leclair (1697–1764) (“Claves”), thoughtfully conceived as a portrait of this distinguished violinist, dancer, composer, and eminent artist.

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