InAlto

Pierre Bonhomme en La grande entrée In the heart of Europe, between France and the Holy Roman Empire, lay around 1600 the prince-bishopric of Liège. It was not a quiet city: Liège was a political and religious crossroads where everything served the display of power. The 'grandes entrées' of Ernest and Ferdinand of Bavaria – prince-archbishops-electors of Cologne – were thus a form of political theater in which everything had to radiate authority, including the triumphal arches of wood and canvas, bell-ringing, cannon fire, costly oaths and impressive music. InAlto reconstructs the dramaturgy of these entries with motets, songs and madrigals by composers around the Liège court. Jean de Castro represents the local music scene, Anton Gosswin reflects the Bavarian connections, René del Mel, Pierre Bonhomme and Bernardino Mosto illustrate the cosmopolitan taste of the court. Festive highlight is the majestic Te Deum by Jean Guyot. Programme: Motets by J. de Castro, A. Gosswin, R. del Mel, P. Bonhomme, B. Mosto, J. Guyot