© Babs Wittemann Couleur Vocale: Kamerkoor Vocoza o.l.v. Robert van der Vinne
Amsterdam, De Waalse Kerk
About the Event
In the ancient Catholic tradition of All Souls' Day, people focus on all those souls who are no longer with us physically — but are with us in spirit. Countless composers throughout the centuries have therefore been inspired to write requiems according to the fixed Latin text. This year, chamber choir Vocoza sings a requiem that has never been performed before, and yet again. We perform a requiem‐pastiche of parts from eleven different polyphonic requiems that together span five centuries, from the early Renaissance to today. A re‐quiem, in other words.
In the ancient Catholic tradition of All Souls' Day, people focus on all those souls who are no longer with us physically — but are with us in spirit. Countless composers throughout the centuries have therefore been inspired to write requiems according to the fixed Latin text. This year, chamber choir Vocoza sings a requiem that has never been performed before, and yet again. We perform a requiem‐pastiche of parts from eleven different polyphonic requiems that together span five centuries, from the early Renaissance to today. A re‐quiem, in other words.
From Belgian composer Jean Richafort's Lux Aeterna, from the first half of the 16th century, to Ukrainian composer Galina Grigoryeva's In Paradisum from 2012. The beautiful two‐part Requiem aeternam by Herbert Howells provides a 20th century anchor, along with the Kyrie and Agnus Dei from the magisterial Double Choir by Frank Martin, who kept the work hidden for over forty years as 'something between me and God.
About chamber choir Vocoza
Vocoza was founded in 1980 as a singing society by Paul Hameleers, to “practice choral singing in any culturally appropriate form and thereby awaken and deepen the love of this expression of beauty in its members and its audience” (from the statutes). To this end, the chamber choir attracts practiced and experienced singers who together manage to reach a fairly high level. The choir's name refers to its surroundings of Vondelpark and Concertgebouw. In 1990, Ira Spaulding became conductor. From 2008 to 2021, Vocoza was under the direction of Sanne Nieuwenhuijsen. The main focus was on 20th‐ and 21st‐century choral music from Europe and the US. The bar was raised higher and higher. The choir sang, among others, the Motet for the Cardinal by Daan Manneke, Le vrai visage de la paix by Rudolph Escher and the Dutch Requiem (the Deutches Requiem by Brahms in the re‐interpretation by Jan Rot). The choir also made contributions to several films by visual artist Guido van der Werve. Since late 2021, Vocoza has been under the direction of singer and conductor Robert van der Vinne. Currently, the choir has 27 members.
Program
Requiem aeternam (1) – Herbert Howells (1892‐1983)
Te decet hymnus, Rheinberger (1839‐1901)
Kyrie – Frank Martin (1890‐1974)
Requiem aeternam (2) – Herbert Howells
Absolve Domine – Peter Cornelius (1824‐1874)
Sequentia: Dies irae, dies illa – Giovanni Matteo Asula Veronese (±1532‐1609)
Offertorium — Clemens Non Papa
Quam olim Abrahae – Manuel Cardoso (±1566‐1650)
Hostias et preces – Luigi Antonio Sabbatini (1732‐1809)
Sanctus – Manuel Cardoso
Agnus dei – Frank Martin
Lux aeterna – Jean Richafort (c. 1480 — c. 1547)
Libera me – Ildebrando Pizzetti (1880‐1968)
In Paradisum – Galina Grigorjeva (1962-)
Practical Information
The Bösendorfer Series is a series of intimate piano recitals in which nine top pianists shine behind our Bösendorfer Imperial Grand grand piano. The Bösendorfer Series is made possible in part by Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.
Address
De Waalse Kerk, Walenpleintje 159, Amsterdam, Netherlands — Google Maps
