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The Grande Chapelle, a result of the
natural growth of the Capilla Príncipe de Viana, has,
in a short time, become an essential reference on the early
Spanish music scene, thanks to the balance of its versions -with
emphasis on the voices- and its musicological meticulousness.
It is offering, with surprising success, a new perspective of
the great Spanish vocal repertory, and always with experienced
international soloists. Through its painstaking work in recovering
the Spanish musical heritage, in both concerts and recordings,
it has earned the respect of institutions and critics.
La Grande Chapelle is an early music vocal
and instrumental group with a European vocation. It takes its
name from the celebrated musical chapelle of the House
of Burgundy and, subsequently, of the House of Hapsburg, which
served the Spanish branch until the 17th century.
It was also known as the capilla flamenca and was under
the direction of such maestros as N. Gombert, F. Rogier
and M. Romero . During the period of the emperor Charles V,
it was "the most respected and excellent choir in Christianity",
according to a declaration in 1551 by the Venetian ambassador,
Cavalli . As in its time, La Grande Chapelle is made up of seasoned
performers from different European countries . The heterogeneity
of the group is a distinctive trademark that shies away from
the uniformity of pitch and gives priority to sonorous reliefs.
In addition to encouraging the amalgam of different techniques
and musical schools, the aim is to create a platform for meeting
and an exchange of ideas to enrich our knowledge of the past.
La Grande Chapelle, founded by maestro Ángel Recasens,
begins its venture in 2005, based on the success obtained with
the former Capilla Príncipe de Viana. This transformation
was motivated by the need to employ a wide range of artistes,
in the light of the in-house musicological research undertaken
in recent years.
The Grande Chapelle's interests are principally focused on the
field of sacred music, as befits a musical capilla. Its
main objective is to apply a new reading to the grand vocal
works of the 16th, 17th and 18th
centuries, with special emphasis on the polychoral productions
of the Baroque, particularly those of Spain. At the same time
it aims to contribute to the urgent task of recovering the Spanish
musical repertoire. That is why, from its heart, it stimulates
research (the gathering of material, inventory, study, and transcription),
premieres previously unknown repertoires, records CDs, and even
publishes works following the most exacting scientific methodology.
Each performance is backed up by rigorous musicological research
of the musical sources and the historical-productive context,
without, however, falling prey to the temptations of a sterile
fundamentalism that distances the musician from his or her main
task.
La Grande Chapelle has performed in the most important music
festivals and seasons in Spain (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Seville,
Granada, Peralada, Cuenca, Salamanca, Pamplona, etc.) and has
been invited to tour in Belgium, France, Germany, Mexico, Japan
and China. For many years Ángel Recasens was opposed
to studio recordings, as he considered them a denaturation of
the authentic sense of the music, and for a long time only allowed
live broadcasts on radio and TV. However, in 2005, he began
an ambitious project for a series of recordings with Lauda,
the label of La Grande Chapelle. In the first year alone the
following discs were released: Among Adventures and Enchantments.
Music for Don Quijote (LAU001), Requiem for Cervantes.
Mateo Romero: Missa pro Defunctis (LAU002), The Flight
of Icarus. Music for the Baroque Eros (LAU003), that have
been critically acclaimed in the specialised press. In 2006,
the group's attention focused on two of the most important Spanish
composers of the 18th century: José de Nebra
(Vísperas, LAU004) and Antonio Rodríguez de Hita
(Canciones instrumentales, LAU005). That year Lauda signed an
agreement with the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC)
to jointly publish recordings of Spanish music. The ambitious
work, Airs of Seduction. Music for the Legend of Don Juan
(LAU006) commissioned by the Sociedad Estatal de Conmemoraciones
Culturales (State society for cultural commemorations), the
Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CSIC (Spanish National
Research Center), was the outstanding new release of 2007.
The group cooperates with other public and private institutions,
mainly performing commissioned programmes.
Following the death of Àngel Recasens, a victim of cancer,
in August 2007, Albert Recasens has taken over the artistic
direction of the ensemble.
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La Grande Chapelle is represented
by Music and Productions worldwide |
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