A very good morning and welcome to this fifth day of Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht 2024. A new day full of enchanting sounds on which centuries-old music inspires and takes us to Seville. Today's wake-up service is dominated by artist in residence Cantoría.
A recap
At Sint-Augustinuskerk, Accademia del Piacere celebrated Hispalis splendens, 'splendid Seville'. Euskal Barrokensemble brought their own version of El Amor Brujo and Cantar Lontano reconstructed Vespers as they would have sounded in Seville's cathedral at the time of Morales and Ortiz.
Artist in residence: Cantoría
Today, the vocalists of Cantoría perform for the first time this festival edition. The Spanish ensemble (that just couldn't be missing within the Seville theme and is our second artist in residence) already came to Utrecht as a Fringe ensemble in 2017. Last year, they made their debut in the main programming. With their youthful energy and vocal virtuosity, Cantoría's singers bring a fresh and dynamic approach to their favourite repertoire.
In no less than three programmes, they let us enjoy their qualities. With today music by Juan Navarro ‘Hispalensis’ (from Seville), tomorrow villanescas by Guerrero and Sunday the Missa Dezilde al Caballero by Morales, together with Capriccio Stravagante & Skip Sempe.
Unfortunately, the concerts are all sold out. You can still sign up for the waiting list. In addition, you can watch tonight's concert live (or watch it back later) via EMTV.
Tip from the team: Café con Raquel
It has been coming up repeatedly over the past few days. Nevertheless, producer Tineke was still very keen to stress how cool she thinks Café con Raquel is (and we understand that!):
'A festival is more than just a concert visit. Of course, you are more than welcome to pick one gem and purely enjoy that concert. Yet our festival offers the chance to go deeper into the music, the stories behind it or the themes surrounding it. So it's great that we can start this year with a cup of coffee during the daily morning show in TivoliVredenburg. I am very curious to see what fun anecdotes, interesting stories or intriguing guests will come along. The fact that, in the tradition of our office, something delicious can be served with that (the cinnamon swirl) is purely coincidental.'
Composer of the day: Cristóbal de Morales
Some composers cannot be missed during an early music festival dedicated to Seville. Cristóbal de Morales (c. 1500-1553) ranks high in that list. We do not know much about this composer's youth, but we do know that his name is accompanied in several documents by the word ‘hyspalis,’ referring to his birthplace. The attentive reader of this wake-up service today then now knows: so that was Seville.
Morales composed a lot, mostly sacred vocal music. Many of these are masses that are sometimes quite demanding, 100 motets, 18 times the Maginificat and at least 5 times the Lamentations of Jeremiah. He was very good at what he did and certainly aware of that.
Morales benefited from the fact that around his time, a number of popes particularly liked Spanish singers. Consequently, Morales spent most of his life in Rome and in the service of the Vatican. In 1545, he left Spain. He became chapel master in Toledo, but had a difficult relationship with his employer due to his financial difficulties and his rather complicated and arrogant nature. Morales also became seriously ill. After only two years, he had to resign.
After several wanderings at other cathedrals and having recovered a bit in the meantime, Morales heard that the position of chapel master at Toledo Cathedral became available again. In August of 1553, he made a written request to return, but a number of canons were not keen on the idea. Despite his fame, Morales just had to apply and ‘audition’ like all the other candidates. Fuelled by good cheer, Morales applied on 4 September 1553. He died in early October.
It should be clear that Cristóbal de Morales is on programmes daily at this year's festival. This morning, Xavier Díaz-Latorre plays some of Morales' works as an arrangement on vihuela. Moreover, tonight's Feast for Saint Isodorus by Gabrieli Consort & Players is built around the Missa Mille Regretz. A mass that Morales took with him to Toledo in 1545 and very likely sounded there.
Also on the programme today...
...Sufi-traditions, Henricus Tik and Guatemalan Gregorian chants.
Today on EMTV
In addition to the opportunity to watch Cantoría's sold-out concert online at the beginning of the evening, tonight's eight-o'clock concert by Gabrieli Consort & Playes can also be watched live on EMTV.
In conclusion, did you know that...
... you yourself can also become part of the Festival of Early Music Utrecht 2024 as a performer? Today's programme includes the Scratch led by Marco Mencoboni. This scratch is not just about singing together. In fact, participants will also learn the basics of solmising and the Guidonian hand.
All day, the participants rehearse with the Italian conductor and harpsichordist, before presenting the result at 16:15 in the K.F. Hein Foyer (fifth floor) of TivoliVredenburg. Listen in for free!
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