Sacred music and Franciscan words Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 PM
The over 200 voices of the Big Vocal Orchestra in an entirely sacred repertoire interspersed with Franciscan words and reflections curated by the friars of the Frari community in Venice: the over 400 available reservations were snapped up in a couple of hours for participation in this unique concert-event that will take place Saturday, May 9 at 8:30 PM at the Basilica dei Frari in Venice (sold out event).
An unmissable artistic and spiritual occasion desired by the friars of the Basilica dei Frari that immediately found an enthusiastic response from the Big Vocal Orchestra, the choir of Venetian citizens known for being the largest choir in Italy and one of the largest permanent choirs in the world, but above all appreciated for its effervescent performances with a very varied repertoire enriched by choreography, lighting and scenic effects of great impact.
But on the occasion of “SYMPHONIES OF THE SPIRIT. Sacred Music and Franciscan words” the many Venetian voices of the Big Vocal Orchestra will shed their more exuberant attire to don a garment of sobriety and spirituality.
However, one element of the Big Vocal Orchestra’s traditional concert-show format will remain: that of the immersive concert, that is, with the choir arranged along the perimeter of the church and the audience inside, as in a musical embrace.
The program of “sacred” pieces, that is, inspired by the sacred scriptures or expressly designed to accompany the liturgy, authorized by the liturgical office of the Diocese of Venice, was selected from the Big Vocal Orchestra’s existing repertoire which possesses a vast selection of pieces from different musical genres, including sacred pieces, gospel, and classical polyphony.
Among the pieces that will be performed are Ave Verum by Mozart, Signore delle Cime by Bepi de Marzi, Gloria from the Messa Creola by Ariel Ramirez, Total Praise (famous contemporary gospel piece, composed by Richard Smallwood), In Monte Oliveti composed by Giovanni Croce, maestro of the Cappella Marciana, towards the end of the 16th century. A special, unprecedented tribute will be an original version of “Dolce Sentire”, the soundtrack of Zeffirelli’s film about Saint Francis, which has now become a classic of Catholic liturgy.
“We are honored to be able to put our many voices at the service of this initiative – explains director Marco Toso Borella – expressing our being a “choir of the city” also within one of the most beautiful and significant Basilicas in Venice. We have never wanted, as a choral formation, to identify ourselves with a single musical genre: we love all music and we love exploring it through all the senses. On this specific occasion we will have the opportunity to experience and let the audience experience a more intimate and profound dimension, in full respect of the sacred place that welcomes us.”
