Pierre Bonhomme & La Grande Entrée

In the heart of Europe in 1600, between France and the Holy Roman Empire, lay the prince bishopric of Liège. It was not a calm city: Liège was a political and religious crossroads where everything was a show of power. The ‘grandes entrées’ of Ernest and Ferdinand of Bavaria – archbishops and prince-electors of Cologne – were a form of political theatre whose every element was designed to radiate authority, including triumphal arches made of wood and canvas, the ringing of bells, cannon fire and impressive music. InAlto reconstructs the drama of these ceremonial processions with motets, songs and madrigals by composers associated with the court of Liège. Jean de Castro represents the local music scene; Anton Gosswin reflects Bavarian connections; René del Mel, Pierre Bonhomme and Bernardino Mosto illustrate the court’s cosmopolitan taste. The climax of the celebrations is Jean Guyot’s majestic Te Deum.

Program

Motets by J. de Castro, A. Gosswin, R. del Mel, P. Bonhomme, B. Mosto, J. Guyot

Performers

Alice Foccroulle, Ann-Kathryn Olsen, soprano | Bart Uvyn, Andrea Gavagnin, countertenor | Luca Cervoni, Riccardo Pisani, tenor | Jimmy Holliday, Joachim Höchbauer, bass | Friederike Otto, cornetto | Guy Hanssen, Susanna Defendi, Charlotte Van Passen, Bart Vroomen, trombone | Joseph Rassam, organ | Lambert Colson, cornetto & artistic director