Serenates: a night of awards and contemporary choral music with the Orfeó Universitari de València
On the night of Saturday, 29 June, the cloister of La Nau Cultural Centre of the Universitat de València was transformed into a vibrant stage for the Serenates festival, where contemporary choral music served as a vehicle to reflect on human existence with the Orfeó Universitari de València (University Choir of Valencia). A night in which the oldest university choir in Spain presented a new cultural award, given to Principal Maria Vicenta Mestre and the UV for the dissemination of culture and, in particular, the promotion of music carried out by the university.
30 de june de 2024
TheOrfeó Universitari de València(OUV), directed byFrancesc Valldecabres, took the stage withIf I am, a reflection on today’s world and individualism. The concert consisted of four works of choral music that created very different atmospheres and shared their contemporaneity: they were all composed between the end of the 20thcentury and the beginning of the 21stcentury.
The very eclectic and carefully selected programme began withIf I am silent(2019) by the famous American composerDavid Lang, winner of the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Music. The performance, which opened the repertoire, plunged the audience into a world of introspection, raising questions such as the doubts that arise in life every time we make a choice.
Next, theStabat Mater Op. 111(1986) by the Norwegian composerKnut Nystedt, who took the audience on an emotional journey written with a fusion of compositional devices. The presence of Full Professor of the Conservatory of Sevilla and renowned cellistAldo Mata, who had just returned from his tour in Japan, added a layer of depth to the performance.
Plainscapes(2002) by the Latvian composerPēteris Vasksoffered a contemplative pause, evoking the extensive landscapes of his native country with a purity and serenity that only nature can inspire. FullProfessor of the Conservatory of Castellón and violinistFernando Pascualand cellistAldo Mata, added their mastery, transporting the audience to the Baltic plains and making the air throb with every note.
The concert concluded with an explosion of rhythm and colour with theConcerto for Marimba and Choir(2010) by the American composerGene Koshinski. With the participation of the percussionist and Full Professor of the Music Conservatory of CastellónFrancisco Sanchis, and a group of students:Mario Porcar, Borja CampsandManuel Sánchez, who were in charge of the percussion.
In addition to this repertoire, the night was also marked by the inauguration of the firstMaria IbarsAwards, given by the Orfeó to individuals and institutions that have made a significant contribution to the preservation and dissemination of culture and music. In this first edition, UV PrincipalMaria Vicente Mestreand theUniversitat de Valènciawere recognised for their promotion of music and culture, in the same year the UV celebrates its 525thanniversary. The OUV de València chose the name of Valencian writer and teacher (1892-1965) for the award, in the same year in which Ibars has been named Writer of the Year by theValencian Academy of Language(AVL).
With more than 75 years of history,the OUV is one of the oldest choirs in the city and the oldest active university choir in the country. The registration period is open until 1 October for the incorporation of new members.