Compelling locals for sure to attend, but tourists as well, the “Internationale Chor – und Orchesterakademie,” an important German music association, will be in concert on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 7:00 pm in the Upper Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi for Spiritual Elevation and on September 8, 2018 at 6:00 pm in the Cathedral of Spoleto.
The famous orchestra founded in Berlin in 1991 by Prof. Dr. Bodo Bischoff has performed music courses every year in different locations between Austria, Germany, and Italy. The residents love to attend, and travelers include it as a memorable part of their Italy holiday as well.
Singers and instrumentalists from Italy, France, Lithuania, Russia, China, Switzerland, Austria ,and from all parts of Germany participate and live together making music for a week. At the end of the seminar, they together present two public concerts of the works studied for about 6-8 hours a day.
The orchestra has performed concerts in Italy, in Rome at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia and at the Teatro Nuovo in Spoleto and Assisi. In Austria, performances happened at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, in Baden near Vienna, in Hard on Lake Constance, in the Music Academy of the Weinberg Castle, at the Zeilern Castle, and at the Zell Castle in Pram In Germany.
The “Internationale Chor – und Orchesterakademie” has been invited to the “Quedlinburg Musica Estate” festival several times and has also performed several times in Berlin and in national musical academies in Hammelburg and in the Michaelstein monastery.
This year’s program includes works by Joseph Rheinberger (1839-1901), César Franck (1822-1890), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1759), and John Rutter (1945). This program will be organized from September 1-9, 2018 during the seminar that will take place in Monteluco near Spoleto for the 28th edition of the “Internationale Chor- und Orchesterakademie” whose motto this year is: “Ave Maria, Gratiaplena.”
The basis of the program centered on the liturgy of the double-choir Mass in E-flat major, op. 109 of composer Johann Gabriel Rheinberger. It includes the parts of the Ordinary Kyrie – Gloria – Credo – Sanctus/Benedictus and Agnus Dei.
The anniversary of Mary’s birth, or Mary’s birthday (according to the Catholic calendar), is on Saturday, September 8, 2018 and will be celebrated with various Marian hymns by Joseph Rheinberger and César Franck. At the opening of the concert, a pastoral for organ acts as the Introitus. After the Kyrie, follows an “Ave Maria” to invoke the Mother of God for mercy.
The priestly prayer (Oratio) is represented by the Marian hymn Ave Regina Coelorum. The “Cantate Domino” motet by John Rutter will be the musical expression of the creed – a great moment of joy. The vocal jubilation is followed by the instrumental jubilation with the 3rd Brandenburg Concert by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The Eucharistic celebration begins with an “Ave Maria,” to which the chorus responds with the triple “Sanctus.” Between the “Sanctus” and the “Benedictus,” the Mother of God is again called in an “Ave Maria” with the request for intercession and mercy. Before the “Agnus Dei,” in closing, the “Queen of Heaven” will be hailed again in a splendid hymn, in which the choir will be accompanied by the organ.
