El felicissimo viaje

In 1549, the young Prince Philip, future Philip II, undertook a grand tour across Europe to present himself as heir to the Empire. The Spanish court organized a magnificent entourage that showcased the country’s power, splendor, and culture. The official chronicler, Juan Cristóbal Calvete de Estrella, documented this journey in great detail in his 1552 work El Felicísimo Viaje del muy alto y poderoso príncipe Phelippe, including references to the music performed along the way.

This program draws inspiration from that historical context to recreate some of the music that may have been heard during Philip’s stay in Antwerp, a city that welcomed him with elaborate celebrations. There, the musician and publisher Tilman Susato released a collection of four-part dances in 1551, known as La Danserye, in honor of the prince.

Through a carefully selected group of these dances, performed on replicas of historical instruments, we invite the audience on a musical journey to the 16th century. The rich sound palette of the wind consort helps us imagine the musical atmosphere that surrounded one of the defining moments in the life of the future monarch.

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