One of the world’s best early music ensembles making its festival debut with an exploratory programme from the Czech archives. Another representative of the remarkable Finnish school of music, the group has been active on the scene for over a quarter of a century and, during this time, has evolved into one of the world’s finest ensembles dedicated to the historically informed interpretation of early music. Since 2003 they have been headed by Aapo Häkkinen, a laureate of the celebrated harpsichord competition in Bruges, who was taught by eminent teachers in Helsinki, Amsterdam and Paris, and whose mentor was the legendary organist, harpsichordist and conductor, Gustav Leonhardt. Accompanied by five outstanding singers and the Purcell Choir from Budapest, the orchestra is appearing at the Prague Spring for the first time to perform two masterful sacred works associated with the Czech Lands in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. programme Antonio Casimir Cartellieri — La Purificazione di Maria Virgine (novodobá premiéra) Jakub Jan Ryba — Stabat Mater performers Helsinki Baroque Orchestra Aapo Häkkinen conductor Purcell Choir György Vashegyi chorusmaster Lydia Teuscher soprano Marie Seidler mezzo-soprano Patrick Grahl tenor Tuomas Katajala tenor Cornelius Uhle barytone More all events festivals Prague Spring Festival 12. 5. 2026 — 4. 6. 2026