From the glowing baroque to the music of modernity: the French journey of the Golden Carriage
We would sincerely love to invite you to the 11th Lednice-Valtice Music Festival, which will be held in the spirit of French elegance and European cultural diplomacy of the 18th and 19th centuries in 2026. The main inspiration was the Golden Carriage of Prince Joseph Wenzel I von Liechtenstein – a symbol of power, taste and noble representation.
In December 1738, the court of Louis XV welcomed ceremonious arrival of an imperial envoy in his golden carriage – a representative of Central European culture, refined taste and diplomatic sophistication. His arrival in six sumptuous carriages, drawn by teams from the stud farms of Lednice and accompanied by the court’s magnificent decorations, was not only a lavish ceremony, but above all a thoughtful gesture of cultural diplomacy.
This legacy will also come to life in the festival programme itself. We are very pleased to welcome Orchestre, Chœur et Académie de l’Opéra Royal de Versailles conducted by Gaétan Jarry, who will perform sacred pieces Leçons de Ténèbres and Miserere by François Couperin together with exceptional sopranos Catherine Trottmann and Ana Vieira Leite. French repertoire in the context of the Czech Baroque tradition will be presented by Collegium 1704 with Václav Luks, whose interpretation combines historical accuracy with artistic depth, and Collegium Marianum leaded by Jana Semerádová, performing on 19 September at the LVMF Prologue in the Garden Palace in Vienna, where the famous Golden Carriage will be displayed as well.
After several years, violinist Cosima Soulez Larivière returns to the festival with distinctive recital programme promising a powerful musical experience. LVMF Final Gala will belong to the world-renowned soprano Sandra Hamaoui and iconic Bolero by Ravel and performed by Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra offering an emotional end to the whole festival.
Our great pleasure is an exclusive musical journey to Versailles, which we are organising in collaboration with Château Versailles Spectacles as a gratitude to our key supporters and patrons. They will have a unique opportunity to experience not only royal opera directly in the setting of the Palace of Versailles – the place where European musical history was written.
In 2026, the festival will be a tribute to sophisticated representation, enlightened patronage and a European cultural identity formed not only in diplomatic courts but also on concert stages. As the Empress Maria Theresa herself said about the Prince Joseph Wenzel I von Liechtenstein: “He was a man like no other can longer be found.” (1772)
We are looking forward to welcome you to the Lednice-Valtice area.
Jiří Partyka LVMF director
Header image:
François Boucher (1703–1770), Nicolas Pineau (1684–1754)
The Golden Carriage of Prince Joseph Wenzel I of Liechtenstein, 1738
LIECHTENSTEIN. The Princely Collections, Vaduz–Vienna