Two years ago, Pinsuti prepared a selection of Victoria’s 'Lamentations of Jeremiah' and 'Tenebrae Responsories': a complex and moving set of works written for Holy Week, which rank among Victoria’s greatest achievements, alongside his Requiem settings. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic prevented the planned performance, so it is now wonderful to be able to revisit these pieces and finally present them. We will be singing items set for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday – some of Victoria’s most intense, mystical and moving music – in Christ Church’s ideally suited rich acoustic.
To open the concert, we will perform the beautiful 'Miserere' by Allegri This work, from the 1630s, was originally sung exclusively and in great secret in the Sistine Chapel in Rome during Holy Week. This setting of the first 20 verses of psalm 51 involves two contrasting choirs and a cantor, each singing in different parts of the church.
The Gloria from 'Missa Papae Marcelli' by Palestrina completes the selection of early music, which is interspersed with work from four exciting modern composers. Robert Webb contrasts Palestrina's with his own setting of the 'Gloria'. Eric Whitacre takes us from Rome to Paris to celebrate 'Sainte-Chapelle', an intricate setting of a poem by Silvestri. 'Locus Iste' by Mealor brings a new and refreshing, flowing expression to these familiar words. We change style dramatically to sing Górecki’s powerful anthem 'Totus Tuus', written in 1987, which, after an opening fanfare, moves from the simplest and quietest of themes to a huge forte section before returning to calm contemplation.
It is an evening offering time for reflection, the sadness and loss of the 'Lamentations' and the possibility of joy and life, even in the darkest situations. It is an opportunity to leave the stresses of everyday life aside, sit back, and let the music enchant you.