Gaia Alelí Szames – soprano
Līga Gita Zīriņa – soprano
Magdalena Kasprzyk-Dobija – viola da gamba
Maciej Skrzeczkowski – harpsichord
Programme
François Couperin (1668-1733)
Première Leçon de Ténèbres
Jean-Baptiste Forqueray (1699-1782)
La du Vaucel
François Couperin
Seconde Leçon de Ténèbres
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643-1704)
Tristis est anima mea
Mr. de Sainte-Colombe le fils (ca.1660-ca.1720)
Fantasie en rondeau
François Couperin
Troisième Leçon de Ténèbres
L’Epineuse
Victoria, Christo resurgentis
The above collection of musical masterpieces has its core in Couperin’s Leçons de Ténèbres pour le Mercredi Saint, surrounded by other vocal sacred pieces and instrumental interludes. The opening fourteen verses of Lamentations of Jeremiah arranged for respectively one and two high voices and basso continuo is an important part of French tradition of enriching the liturgy of Holy Week. Comforting melismatic letters in Hebrew followed by painful and sorrowful Latin verses create a diverse story.
La du Vaucel from Piéces de viole due to its melancholic and fragile nature and key the of D major provides a smooth transition to the following piece.
Tristis est anima mea is the responsory of Maundy Thursday. The text refers to the suffering of Jesus in the garden Gethsemane. According to the indication given by the composer, it should be performed after the Seconde Leçon.
The next work, composed by one of the most influential figures of viola da gamba tradition, with its tearful and intimate rondeau prolongs the atmosphere of Tristis… in its parallel key of G minor, by many theoreticians referred to as the most beautiful tonality.
The concert is concluded with three pieces by Couperin – Troisième Leçon, a masterful display of textures and colours given by two high voices, thin-textured L’Epineuse from Quatrième livre de pièces de clavecinand triumphant Victoria, Christo resurgenti fromÉlévations et motets, a blend of virtuosic fanfare, dance and joy of victory over death.
M. Skrzeczkowski
Time & location
10 April | 18:30
Sweelinckzaal
Conservatorium van Amsterdam