Seville

The Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht 2024 is entirely dedicated to the Andalusian city of Seville. A majestic trio of polyphonists leaves its mark on the programme: the work of Cristóbal de Morales, Francisco Guerrero and Francisco de Peñalosa is inextricably linked to the city and its Santa María cathedral.

And there is so much more. Al-Andalus is where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived together in a certain harmony for centuries. There, traditions and arts wrote a common story. Moreover, thanks to a spark from Baghdad that reached the European continent via Seville - thus co-curator Koert Debeuf - the city became the seedbed of the Renaissance.

For ten days you will hear music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque that fulfilled an important function not only in Seville itself, but also elsewhere in Spain, as well as overseas. By gaining a monopoly on trade, Seville became the gateway to a so-called ‘New World’. With their exploration of distant horizons, explorers opened the door to a new world of sound: not entirely coincidentally, the speciality of one of the artists in residence.

Música Temprana

This year, the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht is pleased to welcome two artists in residence whose work has a special focus on Spanish early music. The young vocal ensemble Cantoría and the formation of Dutch-Argentine musician Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel: Música Temprana.

The latter performs one of the two opening concerts tonight: Grandiose Améfrica Ladina. A concert in which Música Temprana recreates the bombastic atmosphere of cathedrals in America in the seventeenth century.

Unfortunately, this opening concert is completely sold out. But not to worry: via Early Music Television (EMTV), the concert can be followed live from the Dom Church. You will find more info on EMTV later in this wake-up service.

Still want to hear Música Temprana live? During the festival, artist in residence Música Temprana will perform in the Dom Church two more times. The day after tomorrow, they will perform the music written and heard by Sevillian composer Francisco Guerrero during his voyage to Jerusalem (1588-1589), and next week Lamentations from the South American city of Cuzco.

Composer of the day: Francisco de Santiago (c. 1578-1644)

The first Composer of the Day during this festival edition dedicated to the Spanish city of Seville is... Portuguese? You read it correctly: Francisco de Santiago was born around the year 1578 in Lisbon, but became inextricably linked to Seville's cathedral as a chapel master.

His first job as chapel master in 1596 was not a success. The then eighteen-year-old Santiago held the position for only a few months, partly because he ‘started the music too early’ at a festive mass. Whether this was lack of experience or a new vision we do not know for sure, but we can say that Santiago recovered and grew into a highly appreciated composer by his contemporaries - king João IV was certainly a fan. Santiago wrote a lot of church music, but his villancicos (Spanish popular songs) were the most popular, both in Spain and Spanish-America.

Over 600 of his works were destroyed as a result of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. Recently, however, a very interesting manuscript surfaced in Seville cathedral, containing lost church music by Santiago, including Tenebrae Responsoria (music for Holy Week). Tonight, Graindelavoix will perform some of this music in one of the two opening concerts. In addition to Santiago's music, they sing works by his probable teachers: Manuel Cardoso and António Carreira. A contrast emerges in which Francisco almost seems like a Baroque composer. Perhaps the young Santiago in 1586 was really ahead of his time after all...

Also on the programme today...

... sounds from the Dom tower. Frans Haagen will kick off the Carillon Festival of Early Music (more on this tomorrow!), followed by a proper bell concert.

A festival at home

Besides the sold-out Música Temprana concert, there is much more to see from home. Via Early Music Television, you can enjoy music from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque - wherever you are. Watch concerts by L'Arpeggiata, ĀRT HOUSE 17, La Tempête, Gabrieli Consort, Arlequin Philosophe, and many more. Join EMTV Premium to watch all eighteen livestreams from the Early Music Festival Utrecht 2024, or watch single livestreams with pay-per-concert.

Today on EMTV

Did you know that...

Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel once appeared at the Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht for the first time as a musician in the Fringe programming? To this day, young, up-and-coming early music ensembles are still a staple at the festival. In addition to the main programme, over 60 ensembles with top talents from all over the world will perform at unique venues spread throughout the city of Utrecht, starting tomorrow.

To conclude

Last week, Adrián Rodríguez Van der Spoel told the Volkskrant about his background, musical motivations and concert programmes during this festival edition.