MOM May Music Festival in Jerusalem
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:21
PNN
"MOM", Magnificat Open Music: the second music festival organized by the Magnificat Institute– the music school of the Custody of the Holy Land – will take place on each Tuesday in May at Saint Saviour's Monastery in Jerusalem (May 1, 8, and 15 in the Immacolata Auditorium, May 22 and 29 in the church; concerts at 6:30 p.m., free entrance).
"Open" because the school will be opened and will welcome everyone to listen to the students and teachers of the Magnificat performing classical passages from the great composers (Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, and others).
The main objective of the festival, however, is not publicity, but education: playing together in front of an audience helps develop the artistic maturity of the students and interpersonal relationships between the students and teachers. The first three concerts in the auditorium will offer passages for various instruments and in various combinations (solos, duets, trios, quartets, chamber ensemble), while the last two, which will be held in the church, will offer passages of sacred music for choir or organ and other instruments. In the May 1st concert, in addition to guitar and cello, the piano will be featured in various modalities (solo, four hands, six hands, and piano duet). And what a piano! Thanks to a contribution from friends of the Premio Vallesina (an organization from the Marche region of Italy), the Magnificat now has a real concert grand at its disposal, a Steinway D 274. The May 8th concert will be largely reserved for stringed instruments and chamber ensembles, while the one on the 15th will feature guitars and flutes, along with a performance by the children of the Magnificat Spring Orchestra and the debut performance of the Magnificat Chamber Orchestra, composed of students and teachers. The Tuesday, May 22 concert in Saint Saviour's Church will be centered on the three choirs of the Magnificat: the Magnificat Buds Choir (children from 8 to 11 years old), the young women's choir, Yasmeen and the choir of the Custody of the Holy Landdirected by Hania Soudah Sabbara (the director of the school); with organ accompaniment by Father Armando Pierucci, Founder and director general of the Magnificat and organist of the Holy Sepulchre, who will offer two of his " Meditations for Organ". The concert on May 29 in the church of St. Saviour is truly the "grand finale" of the festival, which will involve mainly teachers, combinations of different chamber ensembles, along with some of the best students; throughout the whole concert, you will enjoy the beautifulsound of the "Rieger" pipe organ.
A few statistics: this year's MOM offers five concerts (one more than last year), 46 performers (without counting the choirs) and 64 musical passages. The festival's logo is on the poster, two cherubs besides the word MOM, and the Magnificat's logo, as well as a cartoon of Ludwig van Beethoven expressing his pleasure in the project and saying "I love MOM", a cute play on words.
