Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi

Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi is the annual music festival under the artistic direction of Philippe Herreweghe in the beautiful region of the Crete Senesi in Tuscany, Italy.

Artistic director Philippe Herreweghe is inviting famous and less-famous kindred spirits to arouse your curiosity and amazement for a full week in summer! From the intoxicating Italian trecento to the rapture of the Viennese Romantic, the festival will be serving up a daring selection of eight centuries of music history, along with Collegium Vocale Gent!

“The concerts take place in small but marvellous churches, chosen because of their adequate acoustics for the repertoire on the program. On dream locations such as the churches of Santo Stefano (Castelmuzio), Sant’Anna in Camprena (Pienza) and San Francesco (Asciano) both music lovers and performers can discover the Crete Senesi, one of the most beautiful and authentic regions of Europe, situated near well known cities such as Florence, Siena, Montepulciano or Montalcino, an amidst one of the most prestigeous wine areas of Italy.

The international level of the performances and the perfect marriage between the beautiful landscapes and a culture going back to the Etruscan era, make of this festival a unique experience for both the Italian and international public. Next to concerts with top soloists and experienced musicians from my own ensembles, the festival also aims to give opportunities to new talent. The programme is wide but high level and spans ‘five centuries of contemporary music’, presented in a new and refreshing approach.”

Philippe Herreweghe