What might one have heard during a musical evening in Jane Austen’s England? Which melodies accompanied winter gatherings where family and friends came together to celebrate Christmas through music?

With Christmas Eve with Jane AustenLe Concert de l’Hostel Dieu invites audiences to discover the musical world of one of Britain’s greatest novelists, the author of Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and many other beloved works. A passionate music lover, Jane Austen played the fortepiano, sang with her family, and owned works by Corelli, Handel, as well as numerous traditional Christmas carols.

Québec conductor Mathieu Lussier has conceived a programme that recreates the warm atmosphere of these intimate musical gatherings, where instrumental music, spirituality and conviviality naturally intertwined. Featuring works by Manfredini, Corrette, Corelli, Bond and Handel, the programme paints a sensitive portrait of Georgian England, deeply shaped by the legacy of the European Baroque.

Le concert s’articule autour du célèbre Concerto pour la Nuit de Noël de Corelli, véritable icône musicale des fêtes de fin d’année. Les extraits du Messie de Handel répondent au lumineux Gloria du jeune saxon, tandis que la Symphonie de Noël de Corrette et la Chaconne de Schmidt viennent compléter cette évocation festive et raffinée.

A Christmas evening filled with charm and poetry, inspired by the timeless world imagined by Jane Austen.