Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI
in concert in Montreal

Don’t miss this one and only concert at the Maison Symphonique on November 7

By Luc Archambault

November 4, 2022

Jordi Savall and his ensemble, Hespèrion XXI, reconnect with Montreal audiences in the concert Fantasies, Battles & Dances – The golden age of consort music (1500-1750), at the Maison Symphonique.

A concert you won’t want to miss

Covering the period when counterpoint reigned, from the 16th century to Bach, Maestro Savall offers a journey through the history of viola concerts, which travels the paths of Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and England. The consorts from this period, called the golden age of the viola, were inspired by complex instrumental polyphonies.

It is best to rush to the concert on Monday, November 7 in the sublime Maison Symphonique.

The selection of pieces culminates with two Contrapunctus from J.S. Bach’s The Art of Fugue (BWV 1080) and includes works by 15 Renaissance and Baroque composers, such as John Dowland, Alfonso Ferrabosco, Henry Purcell, Samuel Scheidt and Christopher Tye, among others.

So do not sulk your pleasure as a music lover. Subscribing to such an exploration is therefore appropriate for all lovers of Euterpe. A Maestro of this calibre rarely comes to Montreal; it is best to rush to the concert on Monday, November 7 in the sublime Maison Symphonique. Your ears and your heart, musical organs par excellence, will thank you infinitely.

Jordi Savall – Photo: David Ignaszewski

Jordi Savall

Gambist of international renown, Jordi Savall is at the source of an exploration of the forgotten musical heritage and the revaluation of so-called historical music. Founder, with Montserrat Figueras, of the Hespèrion XXI (1974), La Capella Reial de Catalunya (1987) and Le Concert des Nations (1989) ensembles, he marked popular imagination with his fundamental participation in the film Tous les Matins du Monde by Alain Corneau (awarded by the César for the best soundtrack).

Besides his intense concert activity (140 concerts per year, approximately), his discography – 6 annual recordings on average – has more than 230 titles in medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical repertories, with particular attention to Hispanic and Mediterranean musical heritage.

His discography includes, in particular: El Cancionero De Palacio (1991), Dowland: Lachrimae, Or Seven Teares (1987), Concerts à 2 Violes Esgales du Sieur de Sainte-Colombe (2 vol.) (1992 and 2000), Jeanne la Pucelle (1994), Jeanne d’ Arc: Battles and Prisons (2012), Marin Marais: Pieces of Viola (1st to 5th books) (1977-2009), Carceres: Villancicos & Ensaladas (1990).

Hespèrion XXI

The group Hespèrion XXI (originally under the name Hespèrion XX) was founded in 1974 with the ultimate goal of constantly seeking new meeting points between East and West, in order to integrate and recover the international musical heritage, more specifically in the Mediterranean area as well as in connection with the music of the American New World.

Photo courtesy of Hespèrion XXI

The group conceives early music as a tool for musical experimentation through which it seeks the greatest beauty and the height of expressiveness in its interpretations.

Concert program

Eustache du Caurroy (1549-1609)
Fantaisies sur Une jeune fillete

Christopher Tye (ca.1505-ca.1573)
In Nomine XII Crye

John Dowland (1563-1626)
Semper Dowland semper dolens

John Dowland
The King of Denmark’s Galliard

Giovanni Maria Trabaci (1575-1647)Durezze e ligature

Giuseppe Guami (ca.1540-ca.1611)
Canzon 4 Sopra La Battaglia

Clement Woodcock (1540-1590)
Browning my dear

Matthew Locke (1621-1677)
Fantasie 5 in D minor (2nd Suite)

William Brade (1560-1630)
Ein Schottisch Tanz

Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654)
Canzon O Nachbar Roland

Alfonso Ferrabosco (1575-1628)
Four-note Pavane

Anthony Holborne (1545-1602) [Galliard:] The Fairie-Round

William Lawes (1602-1645)
Paven V in C major

Samuel Scheidt
Galliard Battaglia

Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1543-1604)
Passacaille

Joan Cabanilles (1644-1712)
Obertura – Corrente italiana

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Fantasia upon one note

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Contrapunctus 1 – Contrapunctus 9 alla

Jordi Savall, pardessus de viole
Philippe Pierlot, dessus de viole
Anna Lachegyi, tenor viol
Juan Manuel Quintana, bass viol
Xavier Puertas, violone
Enrike Solinis, theorbo and guitar

Direction: Jordi Savall

TICKETS

for concerts in 3 cities:

MONTREAL
November 7, 2022 at  7:30 pm
Maison symphonique
1600 Saint-Urbain Street, Montreal
514 842-2112 – 1 877 641-6040

QUEBEC CITY
November 6, 2022 at 3 pm
Palais Montcalm
995 place d’Youville, Quebec City
418 641-6040 – 1 866 842-2112

OTTAWA
Concert presented by Traquen’Art and Music & Beyond
November 8, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre
355 Cooper Street, Ottawa
613 241-0777 ext. 505

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Feature image courtesy of Hespèrion XXI

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