Buio e Splendore

Buio e Splendore literally means Darkness and Splendour. The name refers to the extreme, intense and contrasting emotions evoked in the 16^th-century madrigals.

The singers and musicians of Ratas del viejo Mundo give their own interpretation of this poignant music. With three colourful voices and the warm timbres of viola da gamba and lute, they reveal the 16^th-century connection between the luxurious court at Parma and composers from the cold, dark North.

Jealousy, tenderness, solitude, passion, obsession, unreachability, desire, frustration, amorousness, lust and farewell have inspired not just Ariosto and Petrarca to write their magnificent poetry. In their madrigals, Franco-Flemish composers such as Cipriano de Rore, Orlandus Lassus, Thomas Crequillon and Josquin des Prez reveal their artistic soul and craftsmanship. Their output is extremely personal music that alternates swiftly between strong emotions.

Buio e Splendore brings together various original vocal pieces with their historical instrumental arrangements. These sources uncover an international network of artists who expressed their individual emotions in a compelling and sensuous musical language.

Voices of Passion – spring 2022

Polyphonic gems from the Renaissance

Leuven and polyphony have since long been closely connected. The music that could be heard in the city at the time of the Flemish Primitives now once again resounds in harmony with the architecture of Park abbey church in Heverlee.

In the gatehouses on the abbey site, where the House of Polyphony and the Library of Voices are housed, the Alamire Foundation conducts research into the music from the Low Countries. During the festival, experienced musicians and young performers put the results of this research into practice and bring the musical heritage of hundreds of years ago to a contemporary audience.

Just like the Franco-Flemish polyphonists who played a leading role in their age, these ensembles feature prominently on the European concert stage. Voices of Passion presents not only marvellous music from the Low Countries, but also polyphonic masterpieces composed in Rome, Naples, London and Vienna.

Press

www.rdvm.org

artistic direction Floris De Rycker photo Bram Ollieuz