Marienvesper

Vox Luminis vocal and instrumental ensemble
Lionel Meunier bass and conductor

Programme:
Claudio Monteverdi: »Vespro della Beata Vergine« SV 206

In his Vespers for the Blessed Virgin, published in 1610, Claudio Monteverdi displayed an apparently boundless range of artistic talent. He juxtaposed the polyphonic church music of the Renaissance, or »Prima prattica«, with the »Seconda prattica«, which introduced virtuoso solo singing as a creative device. By combining these two styles, the composer created a work so expressive, monumental and sophisticated, that it opened up completely new possibilities for sacred music at the time. Who better to bring this unique work to life than the Belgian ensemble Vox Luminis and its founder and conductor Lionel Meunier? They previously won over the audience at Verden Cathedral in 2022 with vocal artistry at its finest, performing 40-part settings by Alessandro Striggio and Thomas Tallis. Now, Lionel Meunier and Vox Luminis are bringing Monteverdi’s spectacular masterpiece to the stage, once more guaranteeing ecstatic displays of overwhelming grandeur, as well as moving moments of deep spiritual contemplation.

supported by the Verdener Freunde des Musikfest Bremen