Le Carnet de France
The American who brought baroque music back to life in Thiré
As you know, the objective of Le Carnet de France is to inform you of the latest developments in the French cultural world with, obviously, an emphasis on subjects of interest to you, readers, and preferably with a Franco-American flair.
In August, we are delighted to write about a very much-admired American gentleman who has been in France for more than 50 years. His passion for music, gardening, and heritage has greatly enhanced French culture. His name is William Lincoln Christie. He graduated from Harvard College, where he studied Art History, and then went to Yale to study music. He is a renowned harpsichord player.
In 1970, he came to France and stayed!
Nine years later, he created Les Arts Florissants, a musical ensemble named after an opera by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, composed in 1685. In France, you cannot dissociate Les Arts Florissants and Baroque music anymore. It is thanks to William Christie that Baroque music has been revived and is so appreciated today. Les Arts Florissants performs works by Bach, Charpentier, Handel, Haydn, Lully, Monteverdi, Purcell and many more composers.
Since 2015, Les Arts Florissants has been in residence at the Philharmonie de Paris, the concert hall designed by the French architect Jean Nouvel and inaugurated that year. It is located within the Parc of the Cité de la Musique at La Villette, on the northeastern edge of Paris. They’ve also performed throughout Europe, the United States (Lincoln Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music), South America, Asia, and Australia.
Early on, while performing across France, William Christie discovered the Vendée in Le Pays de la Loire, south of Nantes, where he decided to find a home. In 1985, he purchased a 16th-century abandoned building in the small village of Thiré that needed extensive restoration. It had a large piece of land, and his other aim was to make a beautiful garden.
The main building, called “Le Bâtiment,” features typical Vendean attributes. His restoration is so spectacular that it is registered as a Monument historique (regional Heritage site).
A garden? Well, within the large space, you do not have one garden but several, and, like the music, William Christie's inspirations came from France, England, and Italy; there is also an American corner. We were told that Mr. Christie loves cooking, so he does not have to go far to gather delicious produce from his wonderful vegetable garden and fruit orchard.
Since 2012, the Arts Florissants have featured at the Festival des Jardins during the last week in August. It lasts a week, and if you like Baroque music and beautiful gardens, it is a must. In the morning, you are invited to discover the gardens with a tour guide, or you can attend a dance or a singing class. During the afternoon, you can meander throughout the gardens for the Promenades musicales. These are 20-minute performances: solos, singers, musicians, dancers or short storytellers. In the evening, an opera is performed on the Miroir d’eau, an artificial pond created by the host; or you can attend a string quartet concert or a recital in the magnificent Gothic church, Saint Pierre de Thiré, lit with candles and filled with beautiful bouquets of flowers. After those performances, before retiring, you can attend a half-hour recital of sacred music in the church for meditation (no talking, no applause). This is a beautiful and peaceful moment to end the day.
William Christie created Le Jardin des Voix, Les Arts Florissants’ international academy for young singers in 2002 and then started a collaboration with the Juilliard School in New York in 2007. Every year, eight to 10 students are selected to come and perform in Thiré with professional musicians. Thanks to William Christie and his musical co-director, Paul Agnew, a renowned English singer and conductor, gifted young musicians and singers have had their international careers launched.
Under the direction of Paul Agnew, the Festival du Printemps, held one weekend in April, features short concerts of sacred music performed in different churches in and around Thiré. In the village, a cultural center named Le Quartier des Artistes has been created. It is a residence where young musicians and landscape designers can live and develop their talents. Each year, a prize is also awarded to the best landscape designer of the Jardin ephémère (temporary garden).
France has recognized the contribution of William L. Christie through his election to the very prestigious Académie Française in 2008 and a the Académie des Beaux-Arts.
This summer’s des Festival des Jardins in Thiré was held August 22-29, 2026.
For further information, you can reach Martine and Frederick Dulles at contact@lecarnetdefrance.com.
