Department of Cultural Affairs - Baroque music concerts - 3 and 5 December 2024

The Department of Cultural Affairs is hosting a baroque music event in early December. On 3 December, the La Sportelle ensemble will play at Sacré-Cœur Church, and on 5 December, the Concerto Soave ensemble will play at the Chapel of Mercy.

The La Sportelle ensemble will perform its ‘Mater Ecclesia’ programme of choir music, along with a few organ pieces, in a wonderful conversation between the Germany of Johann Sebastian Bach and the Spain of Alonso Lobo, Tomás Luis de Victoria and Francisco Guerrero.  

The term ‘La Sportelle’ refers to an almond-shaped medal given to pilgrims who have travelled to Rocamadour. Today, it is the name of the vocal ensemble behind Rocamadour – Musique Sacrée, a project that seeks out beauty and feeling with the aim of promoting sacred music, stirring emotion, and creating meaningful encounters with audiences.

The Concerto Soave ensemble, created by María Cristina Kiehr and Jean-Marc Aymes, cultivates a unique sound and poetry in its explorations of Italian Seicento music through to contemporary works.

The ensemble’s ‘Venite, Exultemus’ program, performed with baritone singer Romain Bockler, will highlight the bass motets and Italian-style violins of André Campra and Nicolas Bernier, a particularly original creation of the two composers. These motets are an admirable combination of French elegance and nobility with Italian melodic creativity, dramatism and naturalness.

* Tuesday 3 December 2024 – Moneghetti Sacré-Cœur Church, 8 pm

MATER ECCLESIA, a Baroque conversation between Germany and Spain,

By the LA SPORTELLE ensemble: Emmeran Rollin, Artistic and Organ Director – Alix Dumon-Debaecker, Musical Director – Marie-Josée Matar, Armelle Cardot, sopranos – Maëlle Javelot, Sophie Boyer, altos – Gaël Lefèvre, Richard Golian, tenors – Thierry Cartier, Noé Chapolard, basses.

* Thursday 5 December 2024 – Chapel of Mercy – Monaco-Ville, 8 pm

VENITE, EXULTEMUS, André Campra – Nicolas Bernier – Motets for bass and violins

By the CONCERTO SOAVE ensemble: Romain Bockler, baritone 

Gabriel Ferry, Simon Pierre, violins – Flore Seub, viola da gamba – Ulrik-Gaston Larsen, theorbo – Jean-Marc Aymes, organ and harpsichord.

Admission is free (limited number of spots) – Programme: https://culture.mc/