In "Dialogos," Holland Baroque and Constantinople embark on a musical journey inspired by one of history's most remarkable encounters: the meeting between Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil during the Fifth Crusade in 1219. Eight centuries later, their gesture of openness becomes the creative spark for this collaboration—an encounter not of religions or institutions, but of human voices and mutual respect.

Drawing on historic sources such as the "Laudario di Cortona" and the work of 17th-century Polish musician Ali Ufki (Wojciech Bobowski), the ensembles weave together new compositions in which Persian, Ottoman, and early Western Baroque traditions converge. Under the artistic direction of Kiya Tabassian and Judith and Tineke Steenbrink, the music becomes a living dialogue—a conversation of timbres and stories that places listening above division and resonance above conflict. Every note reflects a meeting of cultures, where the old inspires the new and where peace begins in sound.

Holland Baroque and the Montreal-based ensemble Constantinople are known for their creative reinterpretation of Baroque repertoire and cross-cultural encounters, and they embrace collaboration and stylistic exploration. Their coming together in Dialogos continues a creative tradition that also encompasses Holland Baroque's most recent recordings: "Bach's Queen" and "Metamorphosis".