It was in 1970 that Philippe Herreweghe founded Collegium Vocale Gent, dedicated among other things to works by Johann Sebastian Bach and German Baroque music. The ensemble brought new insights on the performance of Baroque music to bear on vocal music, and attained world fame within just a few short years. In 2022, Philippe Herreweghe marks his 75th birthday with a splendid book in which he looks back at his life and his successful career as a conductor.

Photographer Stephan Vanfleteren accompanied the ensemble to the Collegium Vocale Crete Senesi summer festival in Tuscany, and has produced a set of masterful images of the ensemble and its conductor. Religiosity plays a central role in his visual interpretation.

With text contributions from Joep Stapel and Luc De Voogdt on the life and work of Philippe Herreweghe and the composers who have been his greatest inspiration, plus a personal contribution by Philippe Herreweghe on Bach and death.

Text in English and Dutch.