Hooray! Vox Luminis is expanding: a team of musicians are accompanying the singers and Vox Luminis can count on an own orchestra joining the original vocal soloist ensemble and continuo that we have had since we started 13 years ago. Still leading and singing simultaneously Vox Luminis choir and orchestra: Lionel Meunier.

Following several concerts performed over the last two years with our orchestra, we were in high demand with organisers and audiences. So we thought nothing ventured, nothing gained, therefore what would be better than a record? The CD features two outstanding masterpieces: J.S. Bach's Magnificat and G.F. Handel's Dixit Dominus, which is due to be released soon on Alpha Classics.

This is something of a milestone in our musical adventure and we are delighted to share it with you, whether you are loyal supporters of our music or curious music aficionados; whether you live in Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, elsewhere in Europe or overseas.

We are relying on your support to ensure that the adventure continues and goes from strength to strength, making sure that Vox Luminis' new setup gets the recognition it deserves, pleases listeners and has a long-lasting impact.

An event, a recording and two masters: G.F. Handel and J.S. Bach

Two major works have been chosen for this first recording with an orchestra: Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat in D Major and Handel's Dixit Dominus. The composers were both born in 1685 during a period exploding with cultural activity. The Sun-Centred model of the Universe had been discredited but this was starting to have serious repercussions: the earth and its inhabitants were no longer thought of as the centre of the universe. We think it might be worth revisiting that cultural shift, and asking, as humans facing infinity, if music can give us a glimmer of hope?

Handel wrote only sporadically for the church. Composed during his stay in Italy, his Vespers psalms Dixit Dominus, Laudate pueri Dominum and Nisi Dominus are interpreted according to the Venetian models, such as Vivaldi's choral works, with borrowings from the Gregorian chant. The Nisi Dominus was composed for the solemn feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1707, adding remarkable brilliance to the serious context. Similar, but on a grander scale is the Dixit Dominus. Particularly striking is the sumptuous sound painting created around (and by) the lyrics. Emotion pierces the mood with, for example, the percussive effect on ‘conquassabit’ or the combination between the cantus firmus and the counterpoint of ‘Tu es sacerdos’.

The distinctive feature of the Magnificat is the use of a five-voice choir, the elaborate orchestration, the symmetrical composition and the contrasting atmosphere of each part in its own right. Ending with ‘sicut erat in principio’ (as at the beginning) the music from the beginning returns, the cyclical effect complete.

One label: Alpha classics

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The Alpha Classics label has continued to place its trust in us for this recording.

Franco-Belgian group Outhere Music’ main label is Paris-based Alpha Classics. Built on more than 15 years of history and its reputation founded on early music, ALPHA acquired new momentum in 2015 by opening its catalogue to all repertoires and welcoming major new artists from exceptionally diverse horizons, including Anna Vinnitskaya, Véronique Gens, Hervé Niquet, Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Georg Nigl, La Tempête, Nevermind, Jérémie Rhorer, Anna Prohaska, Reinoud Van Mechelen and Matthias Pintscher. There are many more artists still to come, notably new talents, whose discovery and accompaniment are a key priority for the label.

It will be the second recording to be released under this label, following Actus tragicus in 2016. The awards for this recording include the much-coveted Telerama ffff (from the French Telerama magazine).

2017 Tour – Programme: Magnificat

Here are the forthcoming "Magnificat-based" concerts

The concert programme features: Johann Kuhnau and his Magnificat - Johann Pachelbel, with the Jauchzet dem Herrn alle Welt cantata - Johann Sebastian Bach, Magnificat BWV 243

2nd of December 2017: Concertgebouw Brugge

3rd of December 2017: Les Grands concerts de Lyon

8th of December 2017: Eglise Saint Roch, Paris

10th of December 2017: Amilly, France

11th of December 2017: Saint John's Smith Square, London

21st of December 2017: Center for fine Arts, Brussels

Contact us for the early 2018 programme. We can already reveal that Vox Luminis will be performing in Madrid, the Netherlands, the United States (Texas, Miami, New York City) and Paris.

Vox Luminis s'agrandit