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...or how the pandemics in Europe have been fought with music and story-telling...
Over the centuries, music has played a major role in making the fear and uncertainty of epedimias more bearable.
Accademia Amsterdam initiates a “corona-proof” project with comforting music by Charpentier, combined with light-footed excerpts from dante's “Decamerone”.
The central work is Marc-Antoine Charpentiers (1643—1704) “Pestis Mediolanensis” or the Plague of Milan. This oratorio for soloists and small ensemble celebrates the good deeds of the Bishop of Milan during an outbreak of the bubonic plague in the late 16th century. We could compare the reputation of the bishop with that of our Prime Minister or the virologists of the National Institute of Public Health.
The work describes the misery but also the gratitude for the disappearance of the disease. The heavenly music gives the listener hope and peaceful perspective.
Gratitude is celebrated in Charpentier's famous “Te Deum”, which concludes the program. Everyone knows the opening part, because it is used as the tune of the Euro song festival.
Concerts are scheduled from June 2021, with a choice of soloists, who will also perform choral parts. An international tour is being organised as well. Follow us to learn about the exact performance dates.
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