Rackham Auditorium
The Mad Lover
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin &
Thomas Dunford, lute
Early access for renewing subscribers
starts Tue Apr 28
Théotime Langlois de Swarte led Les Arts Florissants in a superb all-Vivaldi program in April 2025, and we are thrilled to bring him back with lute player Thomas Dunford for this concert that puts a spotlight on two instruments that are frequently featured in Baroque music. Together, they perform works from their album The Mad Lover, reimagining an inconsolable character from the reign of Charles II, someone representing the 17th-century English notion of melancholy. During that period, melancholy moved from a sign of vice into a mark of genius, and this tale is told through music from the pen of such violin virtuosos as the prodigiously gifted Nicola Matteis, a violinist and composer who was quite popular in his time.
Heightened by the exuberance and wild abandon common to the music of this period, this concert features music by Baroque composers and musicians and weaves a different sort of narrative of yearning and loss.
Program
John Eccles Aire V from The Mad Lover suite
Daniel Purcell Sonata in f minor
Nicola Matteis Folia
Nicola Matteis Jr. Fantasia in a minor
Nicola Matteis Sarabanda Amorosa from the Suite in a minor (First Book of Ayres for the Violin)
Nicola Matteis Diverse bizarrerie sopra la vecchia sarabanda o pur Ciaconna from the Suite in C Major (First Book of Ayres for the Violin)
Joan Ambrosio Dalza Calata
John Eccles Aire III from The Mad Lover suite
Henry Purcell Prelude in g minor, ZN. 773
Henry Eccles Sonata in g minor
Nicola Matteis Suite in G Major from the Second Book of Ayres for the Violin
Henry Eccles Sonata Quinta in e minor
Henry Eccles A New Division upon the ground bass of “John Come and Kiss Me”
Buy Tickets
The Mad Lover
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin &
Thomas Dunford, lute
Rackham Auditorium
Season tickets on sale Tue May 5
Early access for renewing subscribers
starts Tue Apr 28
CHOOSE A PERFORMANCE:
Or call the ticket office at 734-764-2538
* Student, Senior and Group Discounts may be available
BIOGRAPHY
“Performances so special that I feel a changed man from listening” [Gramophone]; “A stunner by any standard” [The Strad]; and “Mesmerizing” [The New Yorker] – these represent common reactions upon encountering violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, who is rapidly emerging as a much sought-after violin soloist (on both baroque and modern instruments), chamber musician, recitalist, and conductor. Whether wielding bow or baton, de Swarte has built a reputation for breathing new life into centuries-old music, whether it be standards of baroque repertoire, an obscure, unfinished work by Vivaldi, or the trio sonatas of his long-forgotten Venetian contemporary, Giovanni Reali. Regardless of what is on his music stand, and whatever his role on stage, de Swarte’s dynamic, spontaneous, and frequently improvisational approach delights audiences the world over.
Recognition has come in the form of major awards, including the 2022 “Diapason D’or of the year” for his recording of Vivaldi, Locatelli, and Leclair concertos (harmonia mundi), and the 2022 “Ambassador of the Year” award from the European Early Music Network (REMA), along with multiple additional recording awards and a February, 2022 cover story in The Strad magazine.
In solo appearances on both baroque and modern violin, de Swarte regularly offers concertos by all of the baroque masters, along with those of Haydn and Mozart. He has appeared with Les Arts Florissants, Le Consort, Orchestre de l’Opera Royal, Holland Baroque, Orchestra of the 18th Century, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Les Ombres, and Orchestre National de Lorraine. His engagements have brought him to prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms) the Philharmonie de Paris, Vienna’s Musikverein, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Berlin’s Philharmonie, Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Hall, and the Shanghai National Art Center.
Théotime Langlois de Swarte studied at the Paris Conservatory under Michael Hentz, and became a regular member of Les Arts Florissants at William Christie’s invitation in 2014, while still a student. In 2025 he led the ensemble on two North American tours comprising 31 venues including Carnegie Hall, Boston, Berkeley, Ann Arbor, Toronto, and Washington DC. He has also appeared in recital with William Christie, including a 2021 recording of sonatas by Leclair and Senaille (“Generations” on harmonia mundi).
Born in Paris in 1988, Thomas Dunford discovered the lute at the age of nine, thanks to his first teacher Claire Antonini. He completed his studies in 2006 at the Conservatoire de Paris (CRR), when he obtained a unanimous 1st Prize with honors in the class of Charles-Edouard Fantin.
Thomas Dunford continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum in Basel with Hopkinson Smith, and participated in several master classes with artists the caliber of Rolf Lislevand and Julian Bream, and in workshops with Eugène Ferré, Paul O’Dette, Pascale Boquet, Benjamin Perrot and Eduardo Eguez. He was awarded his Bachelor’s degree in 2009.
From September 2003 through to January 2005, Thomas gave his first performances playing the role of the lutenist in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night on stage at the Comédie française. Since then, Thomas has played recitals in New York’s Carnegie Hall and Frick Collection, London’s Wigmore Hall, the Washington Kennedy Center, the Vancouver Recital Society, Cal performances at Berkeley, the Banff center, the Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, the festivals of Saintes, Utrecht, Maguelone, Froville, TAP Poitiers, WDR Cologne, Radio France Montpellier, Saffron Hall. He made numerous solo or ensemble appearances in the most prestigious European festivals including Ambronay, Arc La Bataille, Bozar, La Chaise-Dieu, Nantes, Saintes, Utrecht and many others. He has also performed further afield in England, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bresil, Colombia, Chili, Mexico, United States, Israel, China, Japan and India.
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