A Hymn of Heavenly Beauty

Description

British singer Nigel Short founded his Tenebrae Choir 25 years ago. In his search for the best singers, he found them in the choir of Saint Paul's Cathedral, in both London opera houses and in the choir of Westminster Abbey. With the 16-voice Tenebrae Choir, Nigel Short has fulfilled a lifelong dream: "During my time with the King's Singers, we simply couldn't sing many works as a sextet. I therefore envisioned a choir with which I could combine the spacious, passionate sound of large church choirs with the precision of a small vocal ensemble."

"A hymn to heavenly beauty" is the program title of this breathtaking spiritual journey through five centuries of fascinating choral art. Works by the English Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis meet sacred a cappella compositions from the 20th century. From Alonso Lobo's deeply felt "Versa est in luctum", which makes the mourning of the Spanish Renaissance palpable, the path leads to the solemn "Burial Sentences" by Purcell and Croft.

A fascinating highlight is the famous "Miserere" by Allegri, whose soaring high notes will have an almost supernatural effect in the acoustics of the Chiesa del Collegio Papio. The meditative works by John Tavener enter into a fascinating dialog with the dark sonority of Russian Orthodox chants by Rachmaninov and Chesnokov.

Eric Whitacre's luminous harmonies and the simple beauty of Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis" complete the circle of celestial beauty.

Tenebrae Choir (London)
Nigel Short, conductor

Alonso Lobo (ca. 1555-1617)
"Versa est in luctum"

William Croft (ca. 1678-1727) / Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Burial Sentences

Thomas Tallis (ca. 1505-1585)
"Loquebantur variis languis"
"Salvator mundi"
"Te lucis ante terminum"

Antonio Lotti (1667-1740)
"Crucifixus"

Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
"Miserere mei, Deus"

Intermission

John Tavener (1944-2013)
Funeral Ikos
Hymn to the Mother of God
Song for Athena

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943)
"Heruvimskaya pesn"

Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)
"Heruvimskaya pesn"

Eric Whitacre (1970)
"I thank you God"

Gustav Holst (1874-1934)
"Ave Maria"
"Nunc Dimittis"

Highlights

• Performances by the renowned Tenebrae Choir from London
• Features works from five centuries of choral music
• Includes pieces by Tallis, Purcell, Allegri, Tavener, Rachmaninov, and Whitacre

General Information

The concert titled "A Hymn of Heavenly Beauty" takes place at the Collegio Papio in Ascona. Nigel Short conducts the Tenebrae Choir in a program exploring sacred choral works from the English Renaissance to contemporary compositions. The event offers a spiritual journey through diverse choral traditions and styles.

Location

Via delle Cappelle 1, 6612 Ascona, Schweiz

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