The French orchestra and musical organization Les Talens Lyriques has been awarded the 18th Traetta Prize 2026, “in recognition of their consistent, profound, and outstanding professionalism in the recovery, interpretation, and dissemination of the European musical heritage of the eighteenth century.”

The Traetta Prize is awarded by the Traetta Society in recognition of achievements in rediscovering the roots of European music. It takes its name from the composer Tommaso Traetta (1727–1779) and is presented annually during Traetta Week, a series of commemorative events dedicated to the composer, held over the eight days between the anniversaries of his birth and death (March 30 – April 6).

The aim of the Traetta Prize is to honor individuals and institutions committed to expanding knowledge of eighteenth-century musical production. The prize adopts Traetta’s name as a symbol of a long list of unjustly neglected composers such as Leonardo Vinci, Pasquale Anfossi, Antonio Sacchini, Nicola Vaccaj, Leonardo Leo, Domenico Cimarosa, and Vicente Martín y Soler, among others.

Founded in Paris in 1991, Les Talens Lyriques has established itself as one of the leading ensembles in the Baroque and Classical repertoire, distinguished by its philological rigor, historical accuracy, and interpretative brilliance.

At the helm of the orchestra, conductor Christophe Rousset—himself a recipient of the Traetta Prize in 2013—has strengthened the ensemble’s identity, guiding its artistic and musicological activities with consistency and vision. Under his direction, the ensemble has staged and recorded a repertoire ranging from well-known masterpieces to rare and forgotten works, helping to restore to audiences the richness and diversity of eighteenth-century European music.

The awarding of the Traetta Prize thus celebrates the work of Les Talens Lyriques, recognizing their fundamental role in promoting eighteenth-century music and their ability to combine scholarly rigor with interpretative creativity. In particular, their recent production and recording of the opera Ifigenia in Tauride, staged last summer in Innsbruck, has shed new light on one of Traetta’s masterpieces, highlighting its dramatic and musical depth. At the same time, Christophe Rousset has led recent projects such as Traetta’s Rex Salomon, confirming his personal commitment to rediscovering and promoting rare and significant repertoire.

Over more than thirty-five years of activity, the ensemble has produced over one hundred recordings, collaborating with major cultural and academic institutions and contributing to the dissemination of a musical heritage often overlooked. Through this work, Les Talens Lyriques has played a pioneering role in reviving forgotten works and reinforcing a sense of continuity and coherence within European music, making it accessible to an ever-wider audience.

The Traetta Prize 2026 thus recognizes not only the ensemble’s artistic and musicological achievements, but also their contribution to building a shared musical memory capable of linking past and present. It stands as a testament to how, through dedication, rigor, and passion, eighteenth-century music continues to live on and inspire new generations of artists and audiences.