Concert by Vocalys & Eonia choirs, Sunday, March 30, 3:00 pm

The Vocalys Choir (Departmental Conservatory of Bourg-la-Reine) and the Eonia Choir (Departmental Conservatory of Châtillon), under the direction of conductor Emmanuèle Dubost, will perform at Chartres Cathedral on Sunday, March 30, at 3:00 PM.

On the program: Regina Caeli laetare by Antonio Lotti (1667–1740) and Dixit Dominus HWV 232 by Georg Friedrich Handel (1685–1759).

Free admission, contributions welcome.

Composed in 1707 in Rome, Handel’s Dixit Dominus is based on the text of Psalm 110. It was written during the composer’s three-year stay in Italy, beginning in 1706, during which he also visited Florence, Naples, and Venice.
At just 22 years old, Handel was likely seeking to impress his Roman patrons, including several cardinals, despite his Lutheran faith. While influenced by certain choral works of Vivaldi, Dixit Dominus allowed him to assert his talent and establish himself on the musical scene.
The piece alternates or combines choruses and solo arias (2 sopranos, countertenor, 2 tenors, bass), emphasizing the dramatic intensity of the text. Its eight-part structure gives it the character of a sacred cantata. The complete performance lasts approximately thirty-five minutes.