Laus Polyphoniae, this ten-day festival for early music, is in full swing with day and evening programming. Around Laus Polyphoniae 2023 hangs an energetic atmosphere due to its distinctive approach: the city of Antwerp was chosen as the central festival theme 'Antwerp. Townscape – Soundscape'.
Antwerp is a metropolis. An international hub of trade and culture then and now. That is what is being played upon. Antwerp was no less fascinating in the 15th and 16th centuries than it is today. Past and present are united in a harmonious way in this edition. Place to be: among others Sint-Augustinuskerk, a baroque jewel in the heart of Antwerp. The former church is a shrine of artworks. Your eyes won't be enough to admire the beautiful interior: stucco work with an abundance of putti, immense paintings and three large altarpieces realized in the recognizable style of Jan Fabre with panel paintings of jewel beetles.
AMUZ does not skimp on a thin program booklet for each concert. But rather with a compact and substantial booklet, the bible of Laus Polyphoniae. An interesting reference work. The concert-goer can thus browse through the glorious history of Antwerp. You will learn how the city and the music in churches and city palaces sounded vocally and instrumentally in the 15th and 16th centuries. You discover the fascinating international metropolis that Antwerp was then, with all the economic and musical activity that came with it.
Full House for this afternoon concert. The performers Perrine Devillers and Ariel Abramovich were inspired by various Antwerp prints by Phalesius that contained music for lute and singing voice. The lute became a beloved instrument in the late Middle Ages. It was used as a solo instrument, in small chamber music ensembles or to accompany singers. Just as was customary in the Renaissance, Abramovich and Devillers perform their own arrangements of collections with vocal music. Le rossignol musical des chansons is an anthology of French chansons that appeared in 1597. The most recent music was also included in it, such as works by Eustache De Caurroy, Andreas Pevernage, Noé Faignient, Claude Le Jeune and Séverin Cornet.
Soprano Perrine Devillers is a ravishing appearance with a warm, supple voice. She knows how to add relief to a tender performance. With grace and charm she sings of the love that weaves complex knots in a whirl of notes. Love: the gap between longing, fulfillment and disappointment. The spare accompaniment of Ariel Abramovich catapults you back centuries and into evocative love lyrics. A latifundium of love where today's songwriters pale in comparison. Perrine Devillers is wonderfully attractive with her swollen belly. She is pregnant, filled with tenderness and gives the songs an extra dimension. The sounds swirl through the space. The acoustics are perfect. Chemistry develops between both performers.