"Sacred music from near and far" by Pierre Cao – Artistic Director
"Le meeting point of vocal art" by François Patriat –President of the Burgundy Regional Council

"An appropriate place to celebrate sacred music from home and far » by Henri de Raincourt – President of the Yonne Regional Council

Leaving Saltzbourg and the homage paid to its genius in 2006, the Eighth Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay is offering you four days which will put face to face famous musical structures of the western repertory with music inspired by the greatest sacred traditions of cultures faraway.
 
The first coming to Vézelay for the Musicatreize choir who are celebrating their 20th anniversary and were crowned « ensemble of the year » at the last Victoires de la Musique Classique, illustrates in itself this  aim with a programme juxtaposing the now well-known works by Olivier Messiaen (O Sacrum Convivium), Francis Poulenc (Salve Regina), and György Ligeti (Lux Aeterna) with more recent compositions by Jean-Louis Florenz, such as Asmara, inspired by an Ethiopian psalm and by Jean-Louis Agobert, whose La Voix Claire draws its material from Buddhist liturgical songs.

The Arsys Bourgogne choir will, itself, portray the magnificence of 18th century Spanish polychoral music sounding out in the nave if the collegiate church of Avallon the master works of Juan Bautista Comes, Joan Cererols and Juan Pablo Pujol whose virtuosity in invention matches that of their famous contemporaries Cervantes, Calderòn and Velasquez.

The soloists of the orthodox Byzantine choir of the « George Enescu » university of Arts » of Yassy (Moldovia), moved by a real concern for authenticity (all are are graduates in theology), will recreate the spirit of the Roumanian oral tradition of Byzantine music in the intimate atmosphere of the church at Asquins  

It is under the thousand –year-old vaults of the Sainte Marie-Madeleine basilica that will sound out two of the best known and most exuberant choral works inspired respectively by Venice- Vivaldi’s Gloria, and by Rome – Dixit Dominus, performed by Michel Corboz and the famous Ensemble Vocal and Instrumental de Lausanne, who will be participating for the first time at the Rencontres. 
 
Following Paris (Salle Gaveau) it was only natural for Arsys Bourgogne to offer to the Vézelay public the summit of Handel’s artistry The Messiah. The epic story of the greatest Christian events narrated in this vast oratorio will be accompanied by the orchestra les Folies Françoises, whose soloists were acclaimed last year.

Finally, with the prestigious Czechoslovak philharmonic choir and the national Orchestra of Lorraine, I will be privileged in offering you the masterpiece, which, alongside J.S. Bach’s Masse in B, has long since been raised to mythical status, the enormous Missa Solemnis by Beethoven.
 
From the 23rd to 26th of August, Vézelay will be coming alive to “sacred music from far and near”, with, once again, the musical animation of its streets and the Place des Rencontres. The programming will push back the borders separating ancient and modern procedures, and blending pluralism and eclecticism, aims at reducing division between genre and style
 
Will a post-modern spirit preside at Vézelay in 2007?  Why not, if this broadening encourages communication and institutes once again the emotional contents as a fundamental value of music.

To all, I wish a rich and passionate Rencontres Musicales 2007.

Pierre Cao - Artistic Dierctor
pierre.cao@rencontresmusicalesdevezelay.com
Pierre Cao's biography

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The regional council has accompanied since their beginnings les Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay, a high level festival dedicated to the voice. Organized by Arsys Bougogne, it draws each year numerous French and foreign music-lovers, who come to listen to the great names of the profession, including Arsys Bourgogne. This professional choir, formed seven years ago by the region and the State, is recognized as one of the best European vocal ensembles, unanimously acclaimed for its pure and harmonic tones as well as the care given to the texts by their conductor, Pierre Cao.

After the eternal light, the celebration of mass, king David of Israel, Mozart and his contemporaries, the Rencontres, this summer, are placed under the sign of sacred music from near and far. Far from being elitist, the Rencontres want to be festive and open to everybody.

I wish you an excellent festival.

François Patriat - Président of the Burgundy Regional Council

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Can there be a more appropriate place than Vézelay and a better chosen moment than these Rencontres for celebrating “sacred music from near and far”?

So this year for the 8th edition of this event, which has long since earned a high reputation, the eternal hill will be sounding out to the strains of sacred works by Beethoven, Vivaldi or Handel.    

A tremendous programme is, once again this year again, being offered to music-lovers and promises to be the huge success that the exceptional combination of a unique place and magical music can bring into being.
 
I am sure that these new Rencontres will be something to remember and that each and everyone will have undying memories of having lived through a great moment.

Henri de Raincourt - President of the Yonne General Council


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