Early Music Festival
8 February – 29 March 2026
The 2026 Early Music Festival at Müpa Budapest will once again spotlight the genre’s diversity and exceptional performers. The series opens with the popular Handel opera, Giulio Cesare, which features the charismatic Polish countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński in the title role. He is joined by the renowned Il Pomo d’Oro, an ensemble celebrated for its authentic Handel performances, and a cast of outstanding vocal partners.
The festival’s second evening unearths some rare gems: the French formation Ensemble Correspondances, led by Sébastien Daucé, brings to life the music of the 17th-century Swedish court with the help of the remarkable mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot.
The series concludes with Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor, one of the most influential sacred works in music history, and a piece that is sure to heighten the spiritual resonance of Holy Week. Conducted by Laurence Equilbey, known for her openness and compiling highly refined programmes, the piece will be performed by the Insula Orchestra and accentus choir alongside top-tier soloists. Drama, passion, the thrill of discovery and the joy of spiritual exaltation – all at the Early Music Festival.
