Thanks to Fergus for this reminder about upcoming concert by the Camerata Chamber Choir. Ed
Since its inception on the Island in 2010 the award winning Camerata Chamber Choir has been pushing the boundaries of Island choral music in terms of both quality and repertoire and their latest concert in St Catherine’s church in Ventnor on Saturday 19th July is likely to prove no exception.
Sell out performances both on the Island and the mainland over the past two years have brought the choir to the attention of a wider public, including that of the conductor and composer Karl Jenkins, at whose request the choir performed in The Royal Albert Hall last year to great critical acclaim.
Jesu Meine Freude
Keen to extend their repertoire and to show their versatility, on this occasion the audience will be treated to performances of some of JS Bach’s most enduring music, including the motet Jesu Meine Freude – a work of simple austerity and aching inevitability that sits perfectly with its origins as a funeral motet.
It is said that in the late 1700s on a visit to Leipzig, Mozart found himself listening to the choir of Bach’s old church rehearsing one of his motets. After just a few bars, Mozart cried out in wonder at the miraculous music.
“A lullaby of death”
In contrast to this work of serious beauty, Faure’s requiem, composed a century later, was described by the composer as “a lullaby of death” expressing his own view of death as a happy deliverance without fear. Faure himself felt qualified to compose on this subject having spent many years accompanying burial services on the organ! He felt compelled to escape from what was right and proper and wanted to write something different.
The result – this sublimely beautiful, hauntingly intimate piece. Described in a recent review as “an ensemble to get excited about”.
Book now to avoid disappointment
Camerata look forward to welcoming their audience at St Catherine’s, Ventnor on Saturday 19th July at 7pm Tickets available from the Camerata website or on the door.
If you’d like an idea of what the concert will be like, this video below of the same piece being performed is an absolute treat
