The concert is supported by the Flemish Government
Zefiro Torna
Els Van Laethem – soprano, trombone
Jowan Merckx – flutes, crumhorn, bagpipe, percussion
Philippe Laloy – soprano saxophone, alto crumhorn, bass flute
Gwen Cresens – bandoneon
Vincent Noiret – double bass
Jurgen De bruyn – lutes, artistic direction
program:
"Oh Blind World!"
Jacopo da Bologna: O cieco mondo
Els Van Laethem: Di morte certo
Els Van Laethem: La gola
Jacob Clemens non Papa: Blason du laid tétin
Jowan Merckx: Jade
Els Van Laethem: Huc huc
Gwen Cresens: Da’s sport
Cristóbal de Morales: Officium defunctorum
Cypriano de Rore: Calami sono ferentes
Johannes Ciconia: Con lagreme bagnandome el viso
Jowan Merckx: De bekendste vreemde / Perte totale
Jowan Merckx: Digging Evenings
Georges Brassens: Le blason
ticket price: 250 CZK
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Zefiro Torna
The Flemish vocal-instrumental ensemble Zefiro Torna was founded in 1996. Its allegorical name refers to the way in which the mythological god of the west wind, Zephyrus, manages to chase the bitter winter away year after year. This myth served as a source of inspiration for many poets and composers in the middle ages, the renaissance and the baroque. Zefiro Torna consists of Els Van Laethem, Cécile Kempenaers (vocals), Liam Fennelly (viola da gamba, fiddle) and Jurgen De bruyn (lute, guitar and artistic direction). If the programme requires it, the ensemble is joined by excellent vocalists and instrumentalists from Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia. Zefiro Torna brings the cultural heritage to life in a unique fashion, departing from a deep respect for the past. Authenticity is combined with creativity. The ensemble opts for historical instruments and a historical approach to performance practice – for which it calls on the assistance of musicologists – yet they add their very own elements. They incorporate literature, theatre, contemporary dance and modern or ethnic music in their productions. These are at times thematic, at other times strongly conceptual or experimental, always showing a strong sense of inspiration. Zefiro Torna gained international acclaim for their multifaceted approach. Their success has led to numerous concert tours, appearances at important international music in Berlin, Bologna, Olten (SW), Madrid, Maastricht, Middelburg, Moravia (CZ), Pays d’Auge (F), Slovenia, Utrecht, Vantaa/Finland, Vilnius, Alden Biesen, Vienna, Amuz, Antwerp/Laus Polyphoniae, Bozar, Bruges/Musica Antiqua, Charleroi-Danses, Concertgebouw, Festival of Flanders, Festival of Wallonia, Flagey and recordings for the Flemish, Walloon, Dutch, Slovenian and German radio.
In January 2006 Zefiro Torna was offered the Tech-Art prize by the Flemish Chamber of Engineers, meant to stimulate innovative realisations and entrepreneurship. That same year, Zefiro Torna played the annual Palace Concert at the Royal Palace in Brussels. And in 2007 the ensemble was honoured to play a central role at the Bruges Musica Antiqua Festival. Up to now, the ensemble released several CD’s through the labels Eufoda, Et’Cetera and Homerecords. In 2005 their CD entitled “El Noi de la Mare” won the Klara Muziekprijs for the best Flemish production of classical music. 2007 for Zefiro Torna was the year when their CD “De Fragilitate” was awarded the prestigious Diapason d’Or. In Fall 2008 their CD “Greghesche, a musical treasure of the Venetian renaissance” was released on the Klara label. And in Spring 2009 there was the release of “Assim”, a coproduction with LOD for which Dick van der Harst wrote a composition based on the works of Jacob Obrecht and the Javanese gamelan tradition. In autumn 2010 a new CD entitled “O, Monde aveugle!” was released. This cross over project deals with the thematics of the year 2012 and the Apocalypse.
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www.zefirotorna.be