Terra Mater – Mother Earth

A hymn to nature with the France-based leading ensemble L’Arpeggiata under the direction of Christina Pluhar – and with Swedish mezzo-soprano Malena Ernman as soloist. This is a programme that embraces all points of the compass, “the four winds”. The music draws on the roar of the sea, sunlit canarios dances, cuckoos and nightingales, whispers and storms.

Terra Mater is a tribute to vocal and instrumental artistry, through both notated music and improvisation. Terra Mater – Mother Earth – may be understood as a unifying idea: a reminder of music’s roots in the earthly and physical, but also in the ceremonial, the spiritual and the expressive energy of dance. Baroque music contains many dimensions.

Terra Mater is also the title of the album released in 2025 by L’Arpeggiata, Christina Pluhar and Malena Ernman. Founded and led by Christina Pluhar since 2000, L’Arpeggiata is an internationally acclaimed ensemble that cross-fertilises Baroque music with folk traditions and improvisation. With curiosity and creativity, Pluhar creates genre-crossing encounters where past meets present. That same versatility and spirit of discovery undoubtedly also characterise Malena Ernman.