The Lady and the Unicorn in Her Realm

A masterpiece of the late 15th century, The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry consists of six panels depicting a young woman surrounded by animals and lush vegetation. Commissioned by the Le Viste family around 1500, it is traditionally interpreted as an allegory of the five senses, complemented by a sixth, more enigmatic panel bearing the motto “À mon seul désir” (“To my only desire”). Straddling the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, this fascinating work explores the realm of the senses while suggesting a more symbolic journey, expressed through the visual language and allegories of its time. 

With The Lady and the Unicorn in Her Realm, Into the Winds invites audiences to immerse themselves in the musical world of Paris at the very beginning of the 16th century, through songs, dances, and instrumental pieces that may have been heard by the tapestry’s patrons. During this period, a new style emerged—the chanson rustique—drawing on popular tunes and themes (nature, animals, everyday gestures) and adopting a more direct musical language, often playful or witty, yet at times marked by unexpected gravity. In dialogue with the tapestry, this program brings the Lady’s five senses to life through music that explores the full spectrum of human sensations and pleasures (and displeasures), culminating in the final panel, where earthly experience seems to dissolve into an inner world of a wholly different nature.