17/09/2009
Vitoria-Gasteiz, 17th September
2009.- Tomorrow and on Saturday the Santa María Cathedral
will host two very special concerts. Tomorrow Carlos Mena will direct
Capilla Santa María, a formation integrated by renowned musicians, and
on Saturday the protagonists will be Ensemble SINKRO. Both recitals
will be the starting point for the recovery of the Santa María Music
Chapel, an institution that will promote the recovery of the temple´s
musical heritage.
Promoted by the Bishopric and backed by the rest of the sponsors of the
Santa María Foundation and by Caja Vital Kutxa, it is a project which
intends to recover and enhance the value of the temple´s musical
heritage and provide a space for music production and creation. The
intention is to recover the idea of the music Chapels in cathedrals,
structures that used to exist in the temples and which used music as a
pastoral tool. In the case of the temple in Vitoria, the Chapel has not
disappeared and Rafael Mendialdua is the current Kapellmeister, though
its activity has not been maintained.
In all western European countries, and during a long period of their
history, cathedrals have carried out a fundamental role in the
development of cultural activities in cities. And thanks to the
existence of the music Chapels, previous musical heritage was preserved
and updated. The role of the Kapellmeisters was not only the direction
of the musicians that were part of the choirs, but in particular, the
composition of new pieces which, according to the tastes and customs of
each period, would substitute the pieces that had been traditionally
interpreted.
Vitoria was no exception despite the fact that the church of Santa
María was not an episcopal see until 1862. In fact, its existence as a
collegiate church bestowed it with many of the characteristics of the
surrounding cathedrals, though its financial budget prevented it from
developing them to their full splendour. Thus, for example, from 1657
to 1671 the Kapellmeister of the collegiate church was Miguel de
Irizar, one of the most prominent polyphonists of his time, and between
1770 and 1815 Pedro Antonio Ortiz de Landaluce, another important
musician, directed it.
The Chapel´s aims
Taking this concept as a starting point, the intention is to recover
this figure as an institution within Santa María Cathedral, where
top-level local musicians who currently work elsewhere will have a
place. With its recovery the aim is to catalogue the music archives and
recover all the existing musical heritage so that it can be practised.
Similarly, the aim is to also contribute to the creation of new musical
heritage, and make it available to the public through its
interpretation and diffusion.
The starting point for this project will be two concerts of
extraordinary quality which will be held tomorrow Friday and on
Saturday inside the Cathedral, in the section of the nave which now has
firm ground. The first will be offered by Capilla Santa María, a
formation directed by the prestigious director Carlos Mena and
specially created for the occasion. Integrated by musicians with a
brilliant international career, they will interpret a programme which
will commemorate the 350th anniversary of the birth of the English
composer Henry Purcell and the 250th anniversary since the death of
Haendel. The concert will start at 8 pm and the price has been set at 6
euro -2 euro for members of the Circle of Founders- and must be
collected at the Visitor Reception Area. In addition, and in deference
to the support offered by the members, they will have the chance to
attend the general rehearsal that the group will hold on Friday at 11
am free of charge.
And on Saturday, also starting at 8 pm, Ensemble SINKRO, a formation
directly linked to the Jesús Guridi Conservatory in Vitoria and
pioneers in Europe in the use of electroacoustic and instrumental
techniques, will offer a recital dedicated to 20th century music. There
will be a worldwide premiere of a piece by the composer from Vitoria
Antonio Lauzirika, which will take full advantage of the acoustic
possibilities of this space. The price of the tickets, which must be
collected at the Visitor Reception Area, will be the same. The money
collected with these recitals will be destined to the restoration of
the Cathedral´s organ.