TEXTUR 2026 - Héroïnes

Description

Héroïnes celebrates the significant female figures of the Middle Ages: Maria, Radegunde, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Catherine of Alexandria, and Hildegard of Bingen. Queens, saints, mystics, and poets shaped the spiritual, political, and cultural life of their time – and continue to inspire us today. The program combines monophonic and polyphonic chants, solo pieces, and communal songs: Cantigas, motets, hymns, antiphons, and songs from various medieval manuscripts. The music is mostly performed a cappella, complemented by the fiddle and organetto. Historical texts provide insights into the mindset and emotions of the era and allow the written testimonies of the Middle Ages to engage in direct dialogue with the music. A contemporary work by Patrick Burgan based on a poem by Teresa of Ávila bridges to the present. The spatial distribution of the singers in the church and their warm, expressive voices make the concert evening an immediate auditory experience. The program was conceived by Catherine Ravenne, the recently deceased founder of the ensemble, and is now continued by the singers of Cum Jubilo. Without explicitly considering it a homage, Héroïnes continues its artistic perspective and high musical standards – as a living continuation of their remarkable work. Cum Jubilo The ensemble Cum Jubilo is dedicated to music from medieval manuscripts and combines a source-study-based approach with a lively and expressive interpretation. The singers explore sacred and secular repertoires of different traditions and bring both well-known works and rarely performed or rediscovered pieces to life. The programs arise from an intensive engagement with historical sources and allow medieval music to enter into dialogue with literature, contemporary creation, and spatial concert design. The ensemble regularly collaborates with contemporary composers. Cum Jubilo was founded in 2004 by singer Catherine Ravenne, who shaped the ensemble's identity through her intensive engagement with the repertoire and her vision of a free, text-oriented, and lively singing style. Today, the singers of the ensemble continue their work. Pre-program: Theater Workshop of the Saint Charles International School As part of a school theater project, students of the Saint Charles International School in Porrentruy (JU) engage with the figure of Aliénor of Aquitaine and the music of her time. Accompanied by Angélique Greuter, they discover medieval repertoire and develop a short scenic presentation. The theater workshop opens the concert evening and gives the audience an insight into their engagement with the world of the Middle Ages. At the end of the concert, the students will also sing together with Cum Jubilo. Participating artists: Ensemble Cum Jubilo