We will present a Hasse oratorio and a cantata recital with an exceptional vocal lineup
We are very grateful to the Peralada Festival for once again including us in its Easter edition, their third already! We take pride in having participated in all of them and in bringing to the Esglèsia del Carme inspiring projects that have allowed us to rescue from oblivion beautiful works that are performed less often than they deserve. This year, we will not only open the festival (April 17) but also offer a recital of sacred pieces (April 18).
If in 2023 we rediscovered La Giuditta (Scarlatti) and in 2024 we presented San Giovanni Battista (Stradella), this Eastern we step away from Italian lands and turn to Germany, the homeland of Johann Adolph Hasse. This 18th-century composer -who, let’s not forget about that, spent much of his career in Italy- was highly successful in his lifetime thanks to the refinement and elegance of his music and was widely celebrated for the beauty of his melodies. From his catalogue, we have chosen the oratorio Sanctus Petrus et Sancta Maria Magdalena (1758), a sophisticated sacred work (sung in Latin) that reflects on repentance and hope. The lead roles will be performed by two stars of the international Baroque scene: countertenor Valer Sabadus and soprano Marie Lys. We will also have the pleasure of reuniting with two dear friends who are part of the Giuseppe riconosciuto cast, mezzo-soprano Anna Alàs i Jové and sopranist Rafael Quirant, who will play the roles of Maria Salome and Joseph, respectively. Finally, it is always a joy to work with Maria Espada, who will take on the role of Mary, mother of James.
From the grandeur and virtuosity of Hasse, we will move the next day to the solemnity of cantatas by Bach, Telemann, Erlebach and Zelenka, performed by German baritone Benjamin Appl. It will be an honor to accompany one of the most outstanding lieder singers of his generation in his Peralada debut and his foray into Baroque sacred music. Appl is known for the warmth of his voice, his expressiveness and his deep connection to the text, qualities that make him an ideal singer to convey the spirituality of these religious-themed works. Come and experience the transcendence of masterpieces such as Es ist vollbracht and Ich habe genug.
