Unlike the moody and reclusive Sainte Colombe of the film, Mr Savall is a patient guide.

ECONOMIST: Early music

But for Mr Savall memorisation is the same as playing on autopilot, and stifles a necessary element of unpredictability.

ECONOMIST: Early music

Mr Savall says his curiosity to discover ancient music is insatiable, as is his gift to share and to reinvent.

ECONOMIST: Early music

The 53 discs on the Alia Vox label have sold more than 1m copies since Mr Savall founded it in 1998.

ECONOMIST: Early music

In this, Mr Savall was inspired by the writings of Diego Ortiz, a 16th-century composer who detailed the rules of improvisation.

ECONOMIST: Early music

Viol maestro Jordi Savall, Les Musiciens du Louvre and Marc Minkowski, as well as the aforementioned countertenor, Frenchman Philippe Jaroussky, are all regulars.

BBC: Musical destinations: Krak��w, Poland

In addition to rediscovering lost scores, Mr Savall set about completely reinventing a playing technique that would help him draw the best from the delicate instrument.

ECONOMIST: Early music