Céleste Music: Voyage to Versailles

This grand finale concert is the debut of our French double-manual Hemsch harpsichord, built in 2025 by Marc Ducornet and decorated by the Canadian artist Alison Woolley. This newly made harpsichord is an exquisite illustration of the lush, rich sounds of the French Baroque – a sonic “voyage” to the palace of Versailles and music of the 18th century French salon. The oil painting on the lid of the harpsichord is a masterpiece of creativity and historical reconstruction, based on an 18th century painting by the French painter Nicolas Lancret. This performance marks its first appearance in a public concert since its arrival in Toronto. The instrument is a stunning work of art, craft, and sound: a true gem in the Canadian musical landscape.

The harpsichord will be brought to life with a program of sumptuous 18th century French music by Couperin, Jacquet de la Guerre, Boismortier, Duphly, Forqueray, and Rameau. Borys Medicky, the featured artist for this evocative concert, is a renowned harpsichordist, a harpsichord builder, and a faculty member at Western University. The additional concert performers, Alison Melville, Cristina Prats-Costa, and Felix Deak, bring a wealth of virtuosity and historical expertise to our stage.

Featuring:

Borys Medicky, Harpsichord
Alison Melville, Flute

Cristina Prats-Costa, Violin
Felix Deak, Viola da gamba

Programme:

Trio Sonata No. 1 – Jacquet de La Guerre

Pièces de clavecin, Sixième ordre – F. Couperin

Flute Sonata in D major, Op. 91 No. 1 – Boismortier

Pièces de clavecin, Livre 3 – Duphly

Pièces de clavecin en concert, Troisième concert – Rameau

Event Artists

Borys Medicky, Alison Melville, Cristina Prats-Costa & Felix Deak

Céleste Music: Voyage to Versailles

Date/Time
Sunday, June 28, 2026
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Location
Old Town Hall
460 Botsford St
Newmarket, ON
Canada, L3Y 1T1

Price
$25-200

Phone
905-953-5122

Website
https://www.celestemusic.org/festival2026

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