Michel de Montaignes Reisetagebuch | Ruhrfestspiele 2025

A musical-literary journey with I Zefirelli and Ulrich Noethen

In 1580, Michel de Montaigne began a journey that would take him from France via Switzerland and Germany to Italy. What is now possible in a short time took him much longer back then: 17 months and eight days. In his diary, Montaigne records his impressions and gives us fascinating insights into the everyday life of a traveler in the late 16th century. From crossing the Brenner Pass to meeting courtesans in Venice and visiting the Pope in Rome, his descriptions are as stylistically precise as they are comical and witty. The well-known actor Ulrich Noethen reads from the diary. He is accompanied by music from the late 16th century, music that Montaigne himself might have heard. Played by the ensemble I Zefirelli, specialists in chamber music, who have been inspiring audiences throughout Europe since 2017 with their captivating and lively concert formats, bringing a breath of fresh air to early music with their interpretations and original compositions.