CHAMBER CONCERT: TWO PERSPECTIVES ON LOVE
Fri 11 Sep 2015 7.00 pm
St Thomas' Church, Helsinki
Jarno Lehtola, tenor
Sonja Leván, piano
| Anton Webern | Fünf Gesänge nach Gedichten von Stefan George, op. 4 |
| Robert Schumann | Dichterliebe, op. 48 |
Robert Schumann and Anton Webern, Heinrich Heine and Stefan George: two centuries, two perspectives on love. One of the undisputed masterpieces of the Romantic Lied, Dichterliebe is paired in this concert with Anton Webern’s rarely-performed Five Songs on Poems by Stefan George. Love appears as a bringer of both joy and suffering, leading either to salvation or final destruction.
Admission free, programme 10€
In collaboration with: The Parish of Meilahti
CHAMBER CONCERT: MAGNIFICAT
Fri 18 Sep 2015 7.00 pm
St Thomas' Church, Helsinki
Straumr
| Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina | Magnificat |
| Orlando di Lasso | Alma redemptoris mater |
| Trad. Swedish hymn | I himmelen |
| Edvard Grieg | I himmelen Hvad est du dog skjon (from Fire Salmer) |
| Jaakko Mäntyjärvi | Die Stimme des Kindes |
| Felix Mendelssohn | Mein Herz erhebet Gott, den Herrn (Magnificat) |
| Giacinto Scelsi | Gloria in excelsis Deo (from Tre canti sacri) |
| Sebastián de Vivanco | Magnificat |
This stylistically diverse programme includes works based on Marian texts from different epochs as well as psalms by Edvard Grieg. The Straumr ensemble takes its name from the historical name of the town of Rauma on Finland’s west coast, where this ensemble made up of a group of friends from the Helsinki Chamber Choir gave its first public performance in 2012.
Admission free, programme 10€
In collaboration with: The Parish of Meilahti
CHAMBER CONCERT: LAMENTATIO
Thu 1 Oct 2015 7.00 pm
St Thomas' Church, Helsinki
David Hackston, countertenor
The English Vocal Consort of Helsinki
Kaisa Ruotsalainen, violin
Anna Pohjola, violin
Martti Laivuori, cello
Mikko Ikäheimo, lute and theorbo
Mirjam Kyrönseppä, organ
| Christopher Tye | Introitus |
| Anon. Portuguese (16th century) |
Lectio I |
| Thomas Campion | Author of Light |
| J. S. Bach |
Largo (from Violin Sonata No.3) |
| Anon. Portuguese (16th century) |
Lectio II |
| John Dowland | Flow my tears |
| Alessandro Stradella | Io per me non cangierei |
| Christopher Tye | Interlude: Rachel’s Weepinge |
| Anon. Portuguese (16th century) |
Lectio III |
| William Byrd | Ye sacred muses |
| J. S. Bach |
Sarabande (from Cello Suite No. 5) |
| Anon. Portuguese | Postlude |
Portuguese polyphony experienced something of a 'golden age' during the 16th century, and the Monastery of Santa Cruz de Coimbra was a thriving centre for this music. The monastery was home to a busy musical culture; the monks were all skilled singers, organists, instrumentalists and composers. The vast collections of surviving manuscripts held at the monastery contain volumes of music, both sacred polyphony and secular madrigals.
In this concert the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki will perform a setting of the Lamentations of Jeremiah by an anonymous monk from Santa Cruz de Coimbra. In all probability, this will be the first performance of the work in over 400 years. Between the Lamentations, in lieu of traditional responsories, countertenor David Hackston will perform quasi-religious songs that illuminate the sentiment of Holy Week. The concert thus presents fresh perspectives on the Easter tradition of the Tenebrae mass.
Admission free, programme 10€
In collaboration with: The Parish of Meilahti