In 1974 Jordi Savall and Montserrat Figueras, together with Lorenzo Alpert and Hopkinson Smith, founded Hespèrion XX (renamed Hespèrion XXI at the turn of the new millennium) in Basel, an ensemble for ancient music, which – by applying historical criteria and using original instruments – sought to preserve and enhance the rich and fascinating repertoire prior to the 19th century.

Today, Hespèrion XXI is a key point of reference for those seeking to understand musical development in the period from the Middle Ages up to the Baroque era. The value of this ensemble’s work, present in the preservation of works, musical scores, instruments and unpublished documents, is immeasurable. Among other works, the repertoire of Hespèrion XXI includes works of the Sephardim, Castilian romances, works from the Spain’s Golden Age and from the Europe of nations.