Noëlies Concert - Soave Concerto: Venite exultemus

Motets for bass by André Campra and Nicolas Bernier
Romain Bockler, baritone; 2 violins, viola da gamba, theorbo, Jean-Marc Aymes, organ and harpsichord

Presentation:
During the 17th century, several composers drew upon the vast repertoire of folk songs to create their own works. This is the case with Michel Richard de Lalande, who adapted a series of traditional Christmas carols for instruments. A baroque music ensemble with a flexible lineup, cultivating a unique poetic and sonic spirit, Concerto Soave has performed throughout the world at the most prestigious festivals. It boasts a rich discography, regularly awarded by international critics, which it continues to explore with a spirit of discovery and curiosity. This program presents a series of popular Christmas carols, which will be heard in their original versions as well as in de Lalande's instrumental arrangements. Concerto Soave will also offer two versions—by Campra and Bernier—of "Venite, Exultemus," a psalm of rejoicing particularly suited to the Christmas season, as well as the Marian antiphon "Alma Redemptoris Mater," sung during Advent. Popular music and sacred music thus come together for a program that is by turns festive, colorful, or contemplative, centered around music of timeless beauty.