It was great to revisit this programme after very successful and memorable performances in Kraków and Paris last year.

I last visited Würzburg in June 2021. On that occasion my experience was somewhat muted—pun intended, as we were playing Mozart’s Idomeneo (which features muted trumpets)—but in all seriousness, our trip was somewhat inhibited by the pandemic: we had to show letters at passport control to travel for work, quarantine upon arrival, and observe a 10-day quarantine upon return; concert audiences had to wear masks, and tourism was very limited—simply stopping to enjoy the view from the Alte Mainbrücke was not permitted. So it was with great delight that I was able to revisit this wonderful city for the Mozartfest, once again with Christophe Rousset and his orchestra, Les Talens Lyriques. It was wonderful to see the city in full swing, so to speak: the previously deserted market was thriving and locals and tourists alike enjoyed a convivial glass of wine on the narrow (formerly pandemic-restricted) medieval stone bridge over the River Main.