This program weaves a fascinating dialogue between two deeply rooted musical traditions: the Spanish Renaissance polyphony of Guerrero, Lobo, and Victoria, and the counterpoint of Johann Sebastian Bach, master of the German Baroque.

Far from being a mere juxtaposition, this program illustrates the evolution of sacred vocal writing. In the time of Victoria and Lobo, Spain shone across Europe through its religious music, composed for the grandeur of cathedrals and royal courts. A century later, Bach, within a more intimate Lutheran context, infused this polyphonic tradition with a new dimension, blending personal expression with spiritual meditation.

Among the program’s gems, Versa est in luctum by Alonso Lobo reaches a peak of intensity: composed for the funeral of King Philip II in 1598, it unfolds a musical lament of poignant beauty. In response, Bach’s cantata Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit (BWV 106), known as Actus Tragicus, offers a luminous serenity, affirming that God’s time is always the best.

The grand organ, sometimes an accompanist, sometimes a soloist, engages in dialogue with the voices, deploying its full range of colors to enhance the contrasts of this sonic tapestry. The listener is invited on a journey through time and space, carried by the power and grace of a music where Spanish fervor meets German rigor, where doubt meets hope, where lament meets light.

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