Mirabile mysterium

The Slovene Jacob Gallus Handl, a pioneer of the Venetian polychoral technique, belonged to the circle of composers at the Prague court of Emperor Rudolf II. His spatial or chromatic compositions beautifully capture the magical atmosphere of Prague in Rudolf’s day. The Parisian neo-classicist Francis Poulenc was one of the greatest composers of vocal and choral music of the twentieth century. His compositions take their inspiration primarily from the High Renaissance. In fact, in the motet Exultate Deo we even find a direct quote from Palestrina. His Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël refer back to Monteverdi’s laments and to other musical forms of the early Baroque.

Pre-concert talk by Václav Luks 6.30 pm