Leoš Janáček International Music Festival | The Mountain of Three Lights

Bohuslav MARTINŮ: The Mountain of Three Lights for male choir and organ, H, 349
Francis POULENC: Litanies to the Black Madonna, FP 82
Henryk Mikołaj GÓRECKI: Totus tuus, op. 60
John TAVENER: Svyati
Petr FIALA: Regina coeli laetare
Leoš JANÁČEK: Our Father, JW IV/29

Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno
Petr Fiala (choirmaster and conductor)

Marta Chila Reichelová (soprano)
Aleš Briscein (tenor)
Jiří Brückler (baritone)
Vítězslav Šlahař (narration)
Petr Nouzovský (cello)
Pavla Kopecká (harp)
Martin Jakubíček (organ)

Leoš Janáček International Music Festival – Between Heaven and Earth

A selection of major sacred choral works of the 20th century will be performed by the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, which under the leadership of its long-time choirmaster Petr Fiala ranks among the finest choral ensembles in Europe.

For his cantata The Mountain of Three Lights (1954), Bohuslav Martinů chose not only verses from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but also a prose text from a short story by the writer Henry Vollam Morton and Moravian folk songs from the collection of František Bartoš. The work’s simple and sincere musical expression evokes the atmosphere of a modest village church service.

By contrast, Francis Poulenc’s Litanies to the Black Madonna for women’s choir and organ (1936) reaches an almost mystical atmosphere, inspired by the Gothic pilgrimage church in Rocamadour, France, as well as by medieval Gregorian chant. The world-renowned Polish minimalist Henryk Górecki composed Totus Tuus in 1987 on the occasion of Pope John Paul II’s third visit to his homeland. Its compelling homophonic, hymn-like writing alternates moments of urgent supplication with passages of quiet, fervent prayer.

In his composition Svjatyj (1995), British composer John Tavener makes use of a dialogue between a mixed choir and solo cello, setting a text from the Orthodox funeral liturgy. A contemporary and striking musical language also characterises Regina coeli laetare (2016) by Petr Fiala, written for soprano, eight-part choir, cello, and gong.

The programme concludes with Leoš Janáček’s cantata Our Father for tenor, mixed choir, harp, and organ. Janáček originally composed the work in 1901 as musical accompaniment to tableaux vivants inspired by religious paintings by the Polish artist Józef Męcina-Krzesz. This fascinating work continues to astonish audiences to this day with its passionate temperament.

More information: https://www.mhflj.cz/en/program/between-heaven-and-earth/