The Namur Musical Festival is celebrating its 60th edition this year! For the opening of what promises to be another unmissable classical festival, the Namur Chamber Choir together with the Capella Mediterranea under the inspired direction of Leonardo García Alarcón, at the Grand Manège in Namur put on an unforgettable concert. The program featured the majestic The Lord Saidby George Frideric Handel and the never-before-performed Mass for 9 Voices, concerted with instruments by Giobyni Paolo Colonna. It was an evening full of musical splendor and glory that captivated the audience. Baroque music at its finest.
It was actually a particularly special day for Leonardo García Alarcón. Earlier in the day, he was officially appointed by the Mayor of Namur as an international ambassador of the city, in recognition of his years of passionate dedication to classical music in Namur. Under his leadership, the Choeur de Chambre de Namur and the Capella Mediterranea have grown into internationally renowned ensembles, which have also performed outside Namur, including at the Palace of Versailles. At his first appearance on stage, García Alarcón was greeted with enthusiastic applause, which set the tone for the rest of the evening.
The performance of Händel's The Lord Saidwas nothing short of sublime. The Choeur de Chambre de Namur demonstrated with its precise articulation and rich sonority why it ranks among the finest chamber choirs. The Capella Mediterranea played with refinement and passion, with García Alarcón's direction ensuring perfect balance between choir and orchestra. The fiery energy and dramatic dynamics of the piece were masterfully conveyed, completely captivating the listeners in Händel's musical world.
After a brief intermission, the audience was treated to the Mass for 9 Voices by Giovanni Paolo Colonna. Though Colonna is less well-known today, the musicians brought his work to life in a manner that did justice to the splendor of Baroque music. The complexity and richness of Colonna's composition were performed by the ensemble with great precision and emotion. The soloists shone in their parts, and the blend of voices and instruments was a feast for the ears.
The concert ended with a standing ovation, a well-deserved recognition of the evening's impressive performances. As an encore, the For You Alonefrom Colonna's Messa was performed again, a beautiful final chord that had the audience on its feet once more for a second standing ovation.
Leonardo García Alarcón and his musicians have given an unforgettable evening to everyone present in the Grand Manège. His appointment as international ambassador for Namur seems more than well-deserved; his dedication to music and the city was gloriously celebrated this evening.
