Rencontres Musicales | Vespers

Les Vêpres
Ensemble vocal de St Maurice and soloists
La Guilde des Mercenaires" orchestra
Charles Barbier, conductor

Claudio Monteverdi
Vespers

On the eve of the Assumption, Vespers dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The history of music recognizes Monteverdi as the first composer of opera. It's hardly surprising, then, that his innate sense of theatricality is to be found in this score. An abundant work, between prayer and virtuosity, a work that traverses the space from the intimate to the monumental: a veritable musical odyssey for the listener, and a marvelous way to end this Voyage en Italie.

The choir: L'Ensemble vocal de Saint-Maurice
Founded in 1963 by Canon Marius Pasquier to sing God's praise for radio listeners, the Ensemble Vocal de Saint-Maurice has remained true to its vocation. It continues to serve sacred music, from Gregorian chant to the most contemporary compositions (such as the premiere of Richard Dubugnon's Mystère d'Agaune in 2018), via oratorio music, not without a few detours into secular works. After 20 memorable years at the helm of the Ensemble vocal de Saint-Maurice, the appointment of Pascal Crittin as director of RTS in May 2017 invited him to pass the torch to Charles Barbier.

The orchestra: La Guilde des Mercenaires Ensemble
La Guilde des Mercenaires is an early music ensemble specializing in Renaissance and Baroque wind-instrument repertoire. In the Middle Ages, a "guild" referred to a group of people cooperating and helping each other with the same activity or common interests. Here, around cornetist Adrien Mabire and with a touch of humor, it brings together the best and bravest musicians of our time, criss-crossing France and Europe. La Guilde des Mercenaires does not go it alone, collaborating with other ensembles such as Le Banquet Céleste conducted by Damien Guillon. The ensemble's discography already boasts five critically acclaimed recordings: "Ricercare per strumenti insieme" (2016, L'Encelade), "Mottetti e canzoni virtuose" (2019, L'Encelade), "Gloria a Venezia" (2021, CVS), "La Légende Noire" (2021, Lanvellec), "Frescobaldi, Canzoni Da Sonare 1634" (2022, Lanvellec). The "Riposta" CD was released in autumn 2023.

The musical director: Charles Barbier
Singer, choir and orchestra conductor, Charles Barbier is developing an international career in over 30 countries. In addition to his recordings (including the Echelle CDs and DVDs of Don Quichotte chez la Duchesse de Boismortier at the Opéra Royal de Versailles and Jodlowski's L'Aire du Dire at the Capitole de Toulouse: awarded the Diamant d'Opéra), he can be heard singing solo at the Opéra Garnier, conducting the Estonian National Men's Choir, the Mongolian Philharmonic Orchestra or the Orchestre National d'Auvergne. At the end of 2017, Charles Barbier took over from Pascal Crittin as head of the Ensemble Vocal de Saint-Maurice. Since Easter 2018, he has also been Director of Music at Saint-Maurice Abbey. In November 2023, he was heard on the Martolet stage in St-Maurice as Count Almavita in the Barber of Seville, in a Rhône Opera production. In September 2024, he also conducted Didon et Enée, an opera by Purcell, as part of Ouverture Opera, in Sion.

Musicians:
- Ensemble vocal de St Maurice
- La Guilde des Mercenaires" orchestra
- Charles Barbier, conductor


> Claudio Monteverdi - The Vespers

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- https://www.rencontres-musicales.ch/

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