Le Banquet Céleste

Le Banquet Céleste is an early music ensemble led by countertenor and conductor Damien Guillon. Formed in 2009, the group concentrates on little-known Renaissance and Baroque repertoire, employing historical practices and period instrumentation in a variety of operatic and vocal programs. Guillon directs the ensemble in rehearsals to polish details, though in performances the group acts more like a chamber ensemble in support of Guillon and other soloists. Le Banquet Céleste is a resident orchestra at the Opéra de Rennes in France, and it has performed works by Bach, Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi, Caldara, Stradella, and Frescobaldi, ranging from vocal cantatas to staged productions of operas. Le Banquet Céleste has recorded for Zig Zag Territoires and Glossa, and its 2018 release, Caldara: Maddalena ai Piedi di Christo, marked its debut on the Alpha label. ~ Blair Sanderson