L'Amour et Bacchus
Poliphême
Léandre et Héro
Le Triomphe de la Paix

Young professionals bring four drama-filled cantatas on the stage. With some help from the instrumental group Oblica Ensemble, soprano Júlia Arquillo and baritone Veikko Vallinoja get to show off their storytelling and singing abilities in a select few of ancient stories, full of colourful plotlines and powerful emotion. Clérambault’s cantatas have been composed with a touch of love. As the beautiful melodies grab the listener’s attention immediately, the contents of the scores are varying, ranging from comical and light-hearted all the way to sorrowful mourning and complete madness, without forgetting joyful celebration.

Louis-Nicholas Clérambault (1676–1749) is known best for his contribution as the father of the French secular cantata(cantate Françoise). The Parisian composer worked most of his life as an organist and his works consist mostly of sacred music. However, in 1710 he published his first collection of secular cantatas, a collection that led the way to in total 25 works of similar nature. Most of the librettos of these cantatas are based on ancient mythology from Greece and Rome, the themes of which remain relatable even to the audiences of today.

The cantatas of the evening create a little alternate universe, where these mythical beings interact and take on adventures. Some characters will make appearances in more than one cantata, thus be seen from very different points of view. During the first half of the concert the god of love, Amour, and the god of wine, Bacchus, decide to unite their powers. As the scene shifts from the heavens down to sea-level, the next cantata sheds light on the journey of the desperate cyclops, Polyphemus. Potentially under the influence of Amor’s arrows, he travels down a dangerous path of jealousy. After intermission, the lovers Léandre and Héro make an appearance. It can only be wished that the sea god, Neptunus, lets their love story end in a happy way. For the finale as all storms have finally passed, there is a chance to cheer together for a new era of peace, love and balance in the world.

Duration: 1 h 40 min (incl. intermission)
Pre-concert gathering in the German Church’s Fireplace Room at 7 PM.