Fading - last tickets

programme

Vocal works by Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Jonathan Seers, Nicholas Gombert, Hildegard von Bingen, Owain Park, Alison Willis, Donna McKevitt, Jean Mouton, William Cornysh, Robert Fayrfax, Luca Marenzio, Veljo Tormis, Gerda Blok-Wilson, Joanna Marsh, Ninfea Crutwell-Reade, Richard Rodney Bennett

about

Before night falls and the monks retire to their monastic cells, the day ends with the Night Prayer, or Compline. The texts of this Liturgy of the Hours have often been set to music, including in the 16th century by Renaissance composers such as the Englishman William Byrd, the Frenchman Jean Mouton and the Franco-Flemish composer Nicholas Gombert. These polyphonic gems are notable for their expressive word paintings and dizzying harmonic turns.

The British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six performs a combination of the spiritual music of Byrd, Mouton and Gombert together with a more modern repertoire. Contemplative work by such contemporary composers as Veljo Tormis (Estonia), Joanna Marsh (Great Britain) and Richard Rodney Bennet (Great Britain) sit comfortably among works by masters of the Renaissance. 

The Gesualdo Six is composed of some of the best young British ensemble singers and is directed by Owain Park. Formed in March 2014 for a performance of Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories in the chapel of Trinity College, Cambridge, over the next four years the ensemble gave more than one hundred concerts throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. During this period, the members of The Gesualdo Six further developed their passion for ensemble songs - for most of them a logical step following their formative years as choristers at one of the UK’s many churches and cathedrals.

credits

production

Klarafestival

image

© Patrick Allen