A Festival that Resists the Storm
With admirable courage in the face of the adversities of today’s world, the Torroella de Montgrí Festival has become a space of artistic resilience, presenting performances that captivate and surprise. On August 16, the historic church of Sant Genís hosted the first performance of the Belgian collective Graindelavoix, who offered a program focused on Renaissance polyphony, entitled ‘David’s Lamentations for Jonatan and Absalom’.
A Mosaic of Voices and Emotions
This concert, framed in the lamentations of the legendary King David, conveyed the monarch’s deep sorrow for the loss of his most loved ones, Jonathan and Absalom. Both figures, victims of the war, served as inspiration for a selection of motets that resonated with great emotional intensity.
The Reinvention of Renaissance Classics
The repertoire included works by underrated composers of the ‘cinquecento’, such as Pierre de la Rue and Nicolas Gombert, as well as Spanish and British authors of the Elizabethan era. Attendees were treated to a sonic journey that made Latin the dominant language, with English as the second choice, in a concert that defied expectations.
A Magical and Innovative Scenario
The presentation was equally mesmerizing, with the singers, dressed in various ways, forming a magic circle inside the Gothic nave, lit only by five light bulbs creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. This scenography reinforced the idea that the music was the real star of the night.
A charismatic director
Björn Schmelzer, the director and founder of Graindelavoix, guided the performers with contagious passion, becoming a true conduit between the music and the audience. His dedication and artistic vision made every note come to life, elevating the experience to levels of transcendence.
A Journey Through Emotions
The concert was structured in three sections, each with its own emotional tone. The ‘Laments for Absalom’ opened the evening with beauty and serenity, followed by the ‘Laments for Jonatan’, which explored deeper tensions. Finally, the ‘Final Lamentations for Absalom’ culminated the performance with a sense of reconciliation and hope.
Music as a Reflection of Pain
Each section allowed listeners to connect with pain and loneliness, while extolling the power of music as a form of expression and healing. The performance was so powerful that the audience, intoxicated by the experience, asked for an encore, which was treated to one last musical gift.
A Festival that Continues to Shine
With the promise of more performances until August 22, the Torroella Festival is shaping up to be an unforgettable event, a space where music and emotions merge to create memories that last over time.
