Utopia Ensemble

The Lamentations of Orlandus Lassus Orlandus Lassus is 53 when his Lamentations are published in München. He is already considered the European composer par excellence: at home in all styles, understood in all countries. In his five-part setting of the laments of the prophet Jeremia, Lassus shows how overwhelmingly stillness can be. The tectonics of counterpoint are matchless, thanks to voices that slide over one another in alternating combinations and chords that creak and groan, but never clash. As a master colorist, Lassus colors each Hebrew letter with which the verses are introduced differently – as virtuoso as illuminated initials in a manuscript. From Lassus' brilliant music, the Belgian Utopia Ensemble creates an experience: polyphonic lamentations alternate with Gregorian responsories and motets, so that word, sound and silence mirror each other in a purifying ritual. Programme: O. Lassus: Hieremae propheae lamentationes à 5 (1585) and motets