Drama and Devotion: Reimagining Giovanni Anerio's Oratorio

June 1, 2017

Five new oratorios, composed by J.J. Wright and based on the works of Giovanni Anerio, will be premiered on Thursday, June 1 at 21:00 at Chiesa Nuova. Sponsored by the University of Notre Dame (Indiana, USA) and the Pontificio Instituto di Musica Sacra (Roma), the concert and will feature a combined chorus of students from both institutions, chamber orchestra, and jazz ensemble.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The newly composed works are based on the Liturgy of the Word from the Christian Easter Vigil Mass. Five dramatized biblical and devotional scenes based off of Giovanni Anerio's Teatro Armonico Spirituale di Madrigale (1619) are reimagined using the languages of jazz and contemporary music. Teatro was originally created for and performed in the Chiesa Nuova Oratorio Church exactly 400 years ago.

Drama and Devotion: Reimagining Giovanni Anerio's Oratorio Poster