Jos van Veldhoven conducts the Margaretha Consort: 'Maria Vespers' - Monteverdi

Jos van Veldhoven conducts the Margaretha Consort

'Mariavespers' - Claudio Monteverdi

Nine singers & sixteen instrumentalists with a rich colouring of the Basso Continuo with 2 viola da gambas, cello, violone, dulcian, 2 theorbos and organ. In addition, two violins and baroque wind instruments such as zinc and trombones.

A mix of old and new styles, exuberant choir parts, delicate solo pieces; these are the ingredients that Monteverdi used for his Marian Vespers. With its unique atmosphere and a rich palette of emotions, this score remains one of the most monumental works in music history to this day. And if it is also performed by the specialist ensemble Margaretha Consort under the direction of conductor Jos van Veldhoven, then you can guess: this will be an unforgettable performance of these Mariavespers.

The score of the Mariavespers does not easily reveal its secrets. It is a collection full of questions and ambiguities, but every note is spot on. Each performance requires intense preparation from the conductor and artistic director, during which many choices have to be made regarding instrumentation, continuo, instrumentation, pitch, order of parts, etc., etc. No two performances are the same.

Marit Broekroelofs (founder and artistic director of the Margaretha Consort) and conductor Jos van Veldhoven (conductor of the Dutch Bach Society for many years) together shed their light on this colourful mix of old, polyphonic, emerging Baroque music. With international vocal soloists and an orchestra that clashes the baroque contrasts, you can count on a 'sound carpet that shimmers like the foam caps on the Adriatic Sea'.

The Margaret Consort consists of a core of musicians based on Basso Continuo. The founder and driving force behind this ensemble is cellist/gambist Marit Broekroelofs. The ensemble has been around for over 15 years and has managed to profile itself well in recent years by creating varied and fascinating programs, always of excellent artistic quality and with a sense of history and dramaturgy.