La Tempête fr

Jérusalem

The ties that our Mediterranean cultures have formed for centuries are expressed here as though through a great celebration dedicated to common roots, and to the way in which sacred and popular rituals always play with borders and identities.

The coexistence of the three great monotheistic religions in millennial Jerusalem clearly demonstrates this point : inspiring as much as they reject each other, these beliefs are consistent with our societies, which search for unique identities and are yet so deeply linked to each other.

The music incarnates faith, in all its aspects. The solists' vocal range fills the basilica with a particular aura. Their talent for improvisation, which is heard through numerous modulations, sounds like arabesques and mixes perfectly with the lyrical technicity of the chorus. This original creation makes us appreciate our differences and enjoy a multifaceted culture revealed through music.  

Fanny Bousquet, Olyrix

As usual, Bestion studies the sonority of the venue with close scrutiny, having his singers wander according to the pieces, forming religious processions or popular crowds. The encore, resembling a familial celebration, makes the audience want to dance and rejoice. 

Florent Coudeyrat, ConcertoNet.com

Simon-Pierre Bestion
Concept, arrangements, staging  and conductor

Georges Abdallah
Traditionnal singer (arabic, melkite, byzantine)

Milena Jeliazkova
Traditionnal singer (sephardic, bulgarian and armenian)

18 singers
14 Instrumentalists

2 oboes, 2 dulcians, clarinet/duduk, cornett, 2 sackbuts tenors, sackbut bass, serpent/tuba, 2 percussions, 2 double bass

Marianne Pelcerf
Lighting design

Franz Liszt
Via Crucis extracts

Zad Moultaka
Mansur al-Hallaj poem(Xth century),  persian mystique

Sergueï Rachmaninov
Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom extracts

Arvo Pärt
O Holy Saint Nicholas

Heinrich Schütz
An der Wassem zu Babel, David's Psalm 136

Hector Berlioz
"The childhood of Christ" extracts

Salomone Rossi
Al naharot Bavel, David's Psalm 136

Traditionnal orthodox, yemenite sephardi, arabic and melkite repertoire

Creation : Saint-Denis Festival and  Cité de la Voix, Vezelay