William Christie

Career Trajectory

William Christie emerged in the 1970s as a harpsichordist and continuo player in early music ensembles, bringing scholarly precision to the performance of Baroque keyboard music. In 1979, he founded Les Arts Florissants, an ensemble devoted to the French Baroque repertoire, which became the definitive interpreter of Lully, Rameau, and Charpentier through historically informed performance practice. Over four decades as conductor and artistic director, Christie transformed the global understanding of French Baroque opera and orchestral music, earning Grammy Awards and international recognition while serving as music director of the Opéra de Versailles and guest conducting at the world's leading opera houses.