Adventný koncert

Performers:

Slovak Philharmonic Choir
Jan Rozehnal choirmaster
Katarína Turnerová harp
Ladislav Fančovič saxophone
Marek Štrbák organ

Program:
Wacław z Szamotuł: Prayer
Zachariáš Zarevúcky: Ach, Christe Jesu Kindelein
Marc-Antoine Charpentier: In nativitate Domini
Anton Bruckner: Tota pulchra es
Arvo Pärt: Magnificat
Arvo Pärt: De profundis
Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols, op. 28

The Slovak Philharmonic Choir has been contributing to the musical life of Bratislava for 80 years. The Advent season is also associated with compositions that are ideologically linked to this special
time of the year. Individual works will show us how biblical motifs were perceived and musically completed by composers throughout the centuries. The dramatic motet In nativitatem Domini canticum, the sacral motet Tota pulchra es on the Latin antiphon, but also Ach, Christe Jesu Kindelein by the Slovak native will be a gradual preparation for the magical chants and the roaring tones of the harp revealing the Christmas miracle in Benjamin Britten's unique work Ceremony of Carols. The composition was created during the Second World War, during the composer's voyage from the United States of America. Just before the premiere, Britten supplemented the originally separate arrangements of tunes from the 15th and 16th centuries with the opening and closing entrances of the harps, thus connecting the work. Estonian composer Arvo Pärt celebrates his beautiful 90th anniversary this year. The Magnificat is one of his most popular compositions, the music is supposed to remind of the tenderness and joy of Mary, while the melodic line is derived from the parameters of the text template.