02/04/2009
Vitoria-Gasteiz, April 2nd 2009.- The Santa María
Cathedral Foundation has programmed a sacred music cycle for next
Easter Week. Coinciding with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy
Saturday, the temple´s portico will host three concerts by the groups
Intonationes, Conductus Ensemble and Coral de Cámara de Navarra (the
Navarre Chamber Choir). Entrance is unrestricted.
As part of the Easter Week festivities, the Santa María Cathedral
Foundation aims to broaden its cultural agenda with sacred music.
Within the
´Abierto por concierto´ cycle, it has organised three performances
which it hopes will bring this type of music closer to the Vitorian
public staying in the city during the holidays, and to whoever may be
visiting us.
On Maundy Thursday we can enjoy the presence of the group Intonationes,
dedicated to the interpretation of the vast European general repertoire
prior to the 18th century, paying special attention to Hispanic
composers. They shall present the program entitled ´Presencias del
Pange Ligua´, which refers to the Eucharistic hymn written by Saint
Thomas and which is sung on Maundy Thursday. Furthermore, it will be
the premiere of this programme. Intonationes is formed by mezzo-soprano
Maite Arruabarrena, countertenor David Sagastume, tenor Lluís Vilamajó,
bass Daniele Carnovich, organist Daniel Oyarzabal, and archlute Enrique
Solinis.
The following day, Good Friday, the group Conductus Ensemble will
perform under the portico. Founded in 2002 by current director Andoni
Sierra, it is a grouping of over forty professional musicians,
instrument players and choral singers which adapts in each case to the
repertoire to be performed. Many of them are also soloists in some of
the country´s most important choral and instrumental formations. In
this case, they will delight the public with their interpretation of
the ´Passion according to St Mark´ by Reinhard Keiser, a piece
considered to be a precursor of J. S. Bach´s great Passions. This music
filled with emotion, drama and expressiveness was widely popular in its
time, though it was gradually forgotten.
Finally, on Holy Saturday it will be the turn of Coral de Cámara de
Navarra (the Navarre Chamber Choir). Created less than a year ago and
directed by David Guindano, this formation was conceived with the aim
of interpreting the vast choral repertoire, focusing on Spanish and
Hispanic American composers. It also aims to encourage the diffusion of
this music through concerts, recordings and the publication of scores.
During their performance they will interpret a programme of 17th
century funereal music, including ´Musikalische Exequien´ by Schütz,
´Salvator Mundi´ by Blow and ´Funeral Music for Queen Mary´ by Purcell.
All
concerts are free of charge and will be held under the portico of the
Cathedral at 20:00. Distribution of invitations (maximum two per
person) will take place starting on Monday 6th April at the Visitor
Reception Centre (Plaza de las Brullerías).