History

Since the beginning of time...

After many years as a soloist with conductors such as William Christie, Philippe Herreweghe, Simon Rattle, René Jacobs and other internationally renowned chefs, Reinoud Van Mechelen founded the ensemble a nocte temporis in 2016 with flutist Anna Besson. With this ensemble, they want to fully express their art and shared musical vision through a historically informed approach.

Driven by a common passion, Anna Besson and Reinoud Van Mechelen aim to uncover hidden gems of French and European Baroque music, with a special focus on the dialogue between voice and flute.

a nocte temporis has worked closely with the prestigious labels Alpha Classics and Château de Versailles Spectacles. Their releases have received accolades including a CHOC de l'Année (Classica), the Grand Prix International Charles Cros, seven Diapasons d'Or (including a Diapason d'Or de l'Année 2025), four Diamants d'Opéra Magazine, the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Prix Caecilia for Best Recording, and the Best Classical Music Album 2022 awarded by Gramophone Magazine.

The ensemble began its journey with chamber music projects and continues to explore this repertoire with distinguished musicians. Since 2018, a nocte temporis has expanded its activities and created several programmes for soloists and orchestra, with Reinoud both singing and directing.

The ensemble has notably been heard in the trilogy dedicated to the haute‑contre voice: Dumesny, haute‑contre de Lully (2018), Jéliote, haute‑contre de Rameau (2020) and Legros, haute‑contre de Gluck (2023). In 2025, a nocte temporis performed and released Mozart's Concert arias and Flute Concertos. Today, a nocte temporis continues to bring both chamber music and orchestral works to the stage in Belgium and abroad.

The orchestra collaborates regularly with renowned choirs such as the Choeur de Chambre de Namur (Te Deum by Charpentier; Céphale et Procris by Élisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre; Pygmalion & Zémide; Médée et Jason by J.F. Salomon) and Vox Luminis (Orphée aux enfers by Charpentier).

Since 2023, a nocte temporis has performed Bach’s St John Passion, with Reinoud as conductor and Evangelist. Their recent releases, Mozart Concert Arias (Alpha Classics, 2025), Mozart’s Complete Flute Concertos (Alpha Classics, 2025) and Pygmalion & Zémide (Château de Versailles Spectacles & CMBV, 2025), were awarded a Diapason d’Or. Recent projects also include the rediscovered and newly revived Médée et Jason by Salomon (Château de Versailles Spectacles, 2026), which received a Diapason Découverte.

In 2026, a nocte temporis celebrates its tenth anniversary, including an international tour and the recording of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Les Boréades.

Photography : Haydneum © Pivlax Films