SINFONIA EN PERIGORD 2011 – SUMMARY

By Henning Høholt on 9/10/11 • Categorized as Classical music

presenting “Vespers for the Assumption” by Nicola Porpora and Antonio Vivaldi. With the Girl Choir de La Maitrise de Bretagne (Outstanding), and the four female soloists: Marilia Vargas, sopran, Michiko Takahasski, sopran and Lidia Vinyes Curtis, mezzo sopran, and Enne-Erel Poupard, mezzo sopran, and orchestra.

In this we very much enjoyed the Girls Choire from Bretagne, escellent, and in addition the great mezzosoprano Lidia Vinyes Curtis, which articulation, details and beautiful nuances was extraordinary.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Ensemble Sagittarius, directed by Michel Laplénie,

presenting Adriano Banchieri: La Barca di Venezia per Padova. (The boat in Venice to Padua.) starting with Madrigales by Monteverdi. With a wonderful cast: Caroline Arnaud, sopran, Eugénie Lefevre, sopran, Raphael Pongy, contretenor, Pierre Perny, tenor, Olivier Fichet, tenor, Marcus Loureiro de Sa, bass and acting speaker, and staging by Henry Dupont. An extraordinary successful staging of a theatrical history, build on that the wonderful singers also can act and play comedy brilliantly.

A big success, which France Musique will bring September 15th at 14.00. – This production would be wonderful for TV, texted for all of the world.  -Extraordinary.

The first class musically trio was in the best hands by Damien Pouvreau, téorbe, Roman Khalil, cembalo and Julia Griffin, viola. Leaded by Michel Laplénie.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Ensemble Akadêmia, directed by Francoise Lasserre presenting J.S.Bach: St. Matthew Passion.

The Evangelist sung by the tenor Markus Brutscher was extraordinary in his performing. Christian Immler good as Jesus. Which MEZZO was registrating for TV. Please read our critic: http://www.kulturkompasset.com/2011/08/mattheus-passion-in-perigueux/

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Ensemble Les Meslanges presented a history in words and music named: “Concert on a carriage Amarante colour given to a Lady”.  An assemble in 8 small parts consisting of Songs, music and texts by Robert de Visée, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Robert de Visée, Jean de la Fontaine, Marin Marais, Saint-Simon, Charles Le Camus, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Marc-Antoine Girard, Bertrand de Bacillu, Annibal de Lortigue, and with excerpts from letters from Madame de Sévigné. And others.Elegantly put together to an aumsing little history. Very well sung, played and performed by Thomas Van Essen, baryton, Emmanuelle Guigues, Viola and Manuel de Grange, luth and théorbe.

Les Meslanges: In the 17th and 18th centuries, ‘meslanges’ – or ‘mélanges’ – meant a collection of works of different authors, written in various styles and sometimes in more than one language. The singers and musicians gathered around Thomas Van Essen share a common fascination for the variety and diversity of Baroque music and culture. In 2009, the label HORTUS publishes a record of Airs of Le Camus and Charpentier by Thomas Van Essen and Les Meslanges: Airs de Differens Autheurs donnés à une Dame…

Le Concert Spirituel directed by Hervé Niquet, with an outstanding choire with soloists and orchestra. Presenting Rivalries, extravagance and excess in Florence and Rome, in a rilliant peformance, persenting works y Alessandro Striggio, Francesco Corteccia, Claudio Monteverdi and Orazio Benevoli. Recreation of an Office of St. John in Florence. It was amazing to enjoy this wonderful ensemble with so outstanding singers and musicians.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Jay Bernfeld, Viola da Gamba and Mike Fentross, Théorbe

presented a concert with “Jean Dubuisson‘s voice … in the ear of Marin Marais”. Presenting music by Jean Dubuisson which has been hidden away for 300 years.

– – – – – – – – – –

Ensemble Fuoco é Cenere, presenting the Marionnetiste Bruno Leone in an amusing cooperation with the soprano Daphne Touchais, Jay Bernfeld , Viola da Gamba, and Patricia Lavail, flute, Mike Fentross, Théorbe and Laure Vovard, harpsichord. Including music by Pergolesi and others.

– – – – – – – – – –

In addition a long line of concerts and introductions for free.

For the audience, where many has been atteding nearly al the concerts, it has been like a fairytale travel in the comprehensive world of baroque music, which is a long periode, as the baroque periode is different in different parts of European states. which does it extraordinary interesting.

Some of the particularly artists are spezialised in each their way and direction, and are therefore through their expertice bringing the audience highlights, and composers, to that some, or sometime, many of the audience never ever have heard the names of.

But it is interesting, that in these, “unknown” we often are finding marvellouse music with inspiring ideas, which brings new aspects in to the world of baroque music.

This is the case as for exemple with the music of Jean Dubuisson, presented in the concert by Jay Bernfeld and Mike Fentross, which has been hidden for 300 years
.

Furthermore, I found it interesting that in the roramme this year some of the concerts were performed like small theatre pieces, with costumes, and even with decoration effects. This does that some of the performances/concerts was getting an extra dimension, and in addition gave the singers and musicians the possibility to perform, and to show their theatrical talents, which the audience simply loved!!!

Please let the collection of pictures assisting this summary inspire you.

PLACES – CONCERT ARENAS

A speciality with Sinfonia en Perigord is their choise of concert arenas. As an importent part of  the presentation is choosing differnet interesting arenaes to present the concerts in. But too choosing the kind of concert program which suites the concert arena and its surroundings, wether if its in a a castle, monastery, church or in a beautiful salon in a famous house or culture center.  This is being a good combinayion.

If a detail could be added. I would have appreciated that for some of the audience to have the possibility to combine the concert at a chateua or an interesting monastery, with with the offer for a guiding after the concert. It could for exempel be arranged by the local House or the local Tourist association. It doesn´t matter if this cost 1 or 2 Euro for an informativ half up to one hour introduction. And it dont need to be an extrajob for the Festival. – But could be importent for the tourisme to the actual place.

Sinfonia in Perigord is also taking care of introducing the audience to food specialities by arranging a Gourmet packet, which is bringing them who reserve that package to different famous nearby restaurants or brasseries for a tasty diner between the afternoon and late evening concert.

At the evening concerts, specialy when it is a long concert, I am missing the possibility to get a refreshment in the break. A cooperation with a locl organisation or club, who could take care of every thing and let the organisation have a welcome extra income for that, eventually by paying a small percentage to the Festival.

To improve and attract an even more international audience, which in fact allready are present in the area, or could have been passing by for a few days during their holiday, a wider cooperation with even more foreign countries could be a help. I am sure that many embassies from foreign countries could be interested.

Because, the fact is that the international press are interested, and are allready sending famous critic personalities to Perigord to write about the concerts and the interesting repertoire. This year international critics from Scandinavia, Poland, The Baltic countries, Korea, Schweiz were observed, in addition to  several famous frensh critics. And they loved the festival.

Sinfonia in Perigord, leaded by David Théodoridis is a tourist attraction of international format.