The Musical Universe of Andreas Pevernage Utopia Ensemble

• Andreas Pevernage (1542 - 1591):
• 1 Pevernage: Benedictio et claritas 04:10
• 2 Pevernage: Laude pia Dominum 01:30
• Geert van Turnhout (1520 - 1580): Missa O Maria vernans rosa:
• 3 Turnhout: Missa O Maria vernans rosa: Kyrie 05:02
• Andreas Pevernage:
• 4 Pevernage: Misericorde au povre vicieux 02:31
• 5 Pevernage: Las, me faut il 03:50
• 6 Pevernage: Susanne un jour 03:13
• 7 Pevernage: Pater noster 02:58
• 8 Pevernage: Congratulamini mihi omnes 07:52
• Antoine Barbé (1505 - 1564): Missa Vecy la danse de Barbarie:
• 9 Barbé: Missa Vecy la danse de Barbarie: Agnus Dei 04:40
• Andreas Pevernage:
• 10 Pevernage: Tousjours l’amant 02:04
• 11 Pevernage: Deux que le trait d’Amour 06:32
• 12 Pevernage: D’estre amoureux 02:04
• 13 Pevernage: Ces deux yeux bruns 04:06
• 14 Pevernage: Si dessus voz levres 02:54
• 15 Pevernage: Osculetur me 01:18
• Séverin Cornet (1530 - 1582):
• 16 Cornet: Tibi laus, tibi gloria 05:30
• Andreas Pevernage:
• 17 Pevernage: La vita fugge 02:09
• 18 Pevernage: Quando la voce 03:55
• 19 Pevernage: Infinita beltà 02:31
• 20 Pevernage: Il dolce sonno 02:54
• Total Runtime 01:11:43

Info for The Musical Universe of Andreas Pevernage

Andreas Pevernage (1542/3–1591) is best remembered today as the choirmaster of Antwerp Cathedral and as the composer of several picture motets that are now classified as masterpieces of Flemish culture. Whilst Pevernage spent his entire professional career in Flanders, which may well have contributed to his music being less well known today, he was nonetheless considered as the equal of Orlandus Lassus, Clemens non Papa and Giaches de Wert during his lifetime: the quality of his music is in no wise inferior to the works of his more famous contemporaries. Pevernage adopted the innovations of the Italian madrigal and also breathed new life into the chansons of the Low Countries. This selection of works, mostly for five parts, is an invitation to discover his stylistic and creative diversity.

Utopia Ensemble

Utopia
was founded in 2015. This nascent ensemble blends the voices of 5 Belgian vocalists: Griet De Geyter, Bart Uvyn, Adriaan De Koster, Lieven Termont and Bart Vandeweghe. Over the course of many years, each of these singers have had the pleasure of working with the finest conductors and ensembles in early music: Herreweghe, Paul Dombrecht, Jos Van Veldhoven, and Huelgas Ensemble and Capilla Flamenca. From the start, Utopia has been active on the concert podium with bookings at the Early Music Festival in Warschau and various concerts at the Festival van Vlaanderen in Mechelen. In 2016 Utopia will tour Flanders and the Netherlands with 12 concerts and 3 different programmes. In Antwerp Utopia will be ensemble in residence of the magnificent St. Paul church. The church will not only host regular concerts, but also open its doors for anyone passing by during rehearsals. Utopia’s first CD release is scheduled for April 2016 on Et’cetera Records, featuring the 7 Lamentations of De Morales; a work that has not seen an integral recording for CD before. It is Utopia’s ambition to acquire a secure status in the Early Music scene. Griet De Geyter soprano Bart Uvyn countertenor Adriaan De Koster tenor Lieven Termont baritone Bart Vandewege bass In 1516, Thomas More published his two book work Utopia, in which he criticized the political and economic England of his time. In this masterpiece he searched for solutions for social problems, problems which are now more relevant than ever. ​

Almost five hundred years later, five singers with a soft spot for ancient music have joined their voices and created a new ensemble with the very same name: Utopia.

Let's hear what they have to say about it:

"Having Flemish polyphony in our genes, we really want to explore and perform the music of More's time. Polyphony is born when different points of view come together in a single composition. To quote the recent words of the German minister of culture: “We need art and culture, we need bold, inconvenient thinkers and artists. We need the utopias they create, the fantasies that inspire them and the wish for a better world”...

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