The Constellation Choir & Ensemble, Sir John Eliot Gardiner

Sounding anticipation - A new beginning is rarely easy - and it doesn't get any easier when it comes after well over half a century of life's work. This makes it all the more exciting to be able to experience a new chapter in the life and work of Sir John Eliot Gardiner at the Konzerthaus (concert hall) in Freiburg. In a phase of artistic and personal reassessment, Gardiner has found strength in his own roots: in his origins in the agricultural community of Dorset, where he spent his youth on the family estate of Springhead, surrounded by gardens. This is the fixed star for the Constellation Orchestra and Constellation Choir, founded in August 2024. International young singers and instrumentalists meet personalities from the first-class ensembles with whom Gardiner previously worked. The Springhead Constellation organization is committed to combining music, art and ideas in a transformative way. "Music creates a sense of awe and mystery," says Gardiner, "it strengthens our awareness of our connection with nature."

It is no coincidence that the new success story started with an acclaimed Christmas tour - after all, the traditional local nativity plays and concerts are among the formative childhood memories of the world-renowned artist. With a hand-picked, slender formation of his ensembles, Gardiner creates a concert at Albert that captures the joyful, expectant character of the Advent season in festive tones. As befits Christmas presents, the anticipation of the precious content is cultivated. The spiritual framework has already been established: works by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, William Byrd, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck and other masters from five centuries form the musical foundation of this concert. But there is still room for surprise and discovery - for those tonal gems that only reveal themselves fully the moment they are heard. The richness of musical history and the skill of the performers set no limits.

Program:
Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen" - Christmas gifts over 5 centuries.
Works by Palestrina, Byrd, Sweelinck and others.

Instrumentation:
Sir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor
The Constellation Choir & Ensemble

EUR 99,- / 85,- / 69,- / 49,- / 35,- incl. fees

Sir John Eliot Gardiner | Photo © Hans van der Woerd